tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88431717371991805032018-03-06T13:32:45.929-05:00A Sufi's Journey...Reflections of a simple woman striving to realize and live her purpose in life.Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-19666999717655183442016-08-15T00:57:00.001-04:002016-08-15T00:57:08.262-04:00A Day at the Beach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br /></div>Any day in South Florida means a gorgeous beach day!<br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xJd-Cqt6GB8/Vj0XNlJeZUI/AAAAAAAAE6A/4k8MikbDAaY/s640/blogger-image--1387863147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xJd-Cqt6GB8/Vj0XNlJeZUI/AAAAAAAAE6A/4k8MikbDAaY/s640/blogger-image--1387863147.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9uGEQJAQaVc/Vj0Wf9fWBrI/AAAAAAAAE40/LFas-LfICGQ/s640/blogger-image-1123991923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9uGEQJAQaVc/Vj0Wf9fWBrI/AAAAAAAAE40/LFas-LfICGQ/s640/blogger-image-1123991923.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iGsS0mANdjY/Vj0WiMGy_UI/AAAAAAAAE48/Cm9AHOaAK_o/s640/blogger-image--152197584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iGsS0mANdjY/Vj0WiMGy_UI/AAAAAAAAE48/Cm9AHOaAK_o/s640/blogger-image--152197584.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-grBvxVMO5fM/Vj0WyykKKII/AAAAAAAAE54/jeMCG_wIVwU/s640/blogger-image-701567773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-grBvxVMO5fM/Vj0WyykKKII/AAAAAAAAE54/jeMCG_wIVwU/s640/blogger-image-701567773.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2-lp6JRiCtM/Vj0Ww_Q9MvI/AAAAAAAAE5w/UfMbbmlq2IM/s640/blogger-image--1599456197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2-lp6JRiCtM/Vj0Ww_Q9MvI/AAAAAAAAE5w/UfMbbmlq2IM/s640/blogger-image--1599456197.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rO32hmm3neM/Vj0Wb64EqlI/AAAAAAAAE4k/uQGEnh1fFFw/s640/blogger-image-261579244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rO32hmm3neM/Vj0Wb64EqlI/AAAAAAAAE4k/uQGEnh1fFFw/s640/blogger-image-261579244.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9S8lotaFbRE/Vj0WkrVmenI/AAAAAAAAE5E/W6UIhSzgOFc/s640/blogger-image--1858832265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9S8lotaFbRE/Vj0WkrVmenI/AAAAAAAAE5E/W6UIhSzgOFc/s640/blogger-image--1858832265.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EfxrdP4Qg1s/Vj0Wmqt77OI/AAAAAAAAE5M/uOl0tQ1osFA/s640/blogger-image-147354158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EfxrdP4Qg1s/Vj0Wmqt77OI/AAAAAAAAE5M/uOl0tQ1osFA/s640/blogger-image-147354158.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EK_vqRcS5mo/Vj0Wu0h5GtI/AAAAAAAAE5s/MB-U8jT-0Do/s640/blogger-image--603223942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EK_vqRcS5mo/Vj0Wu0h5GtI/AAAAAAAAE5s/MB-U8jT-0Do/s640/blogger-image--603223942.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VZIZU4OALvk/Vj0Ws99YmjI/AAAAAAAAE5k/l_F6dAXBhfk/s640/blogger-image--548715489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VZIZU4OALvk/Vj0Ws99YmjI/AAAAAAAAE5k/l_F6dAXBhfk/s640/blogger-image--548715489.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LTqDm3Nvsrg/Vj0Wq5bV0rI/AAAAAAAAE5c/0dAP6vHtnKI/s640/blogger-image--617916570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LTqDm3Nvsrg/Vj0Wq5bV0rI/AAAAAAAAE5c/0dAP6vHtnKI/s640/blogger-image--617916570.jpg" /></a></div><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita</div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-28951505426360686602015-11-10T17:11:00.001-05:002015-11-10T17:11:55.287-05:00POD - Picture of the Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bb2_snVXCcU/VkJrqmquEyI/AAAAAAAAE6U/cODVO-pdENM/s640/blogger-image-1087830266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bb2_snVXCcU/VkJrqmquEyI/AAAAAAAAE6U/cODVO-pdENM/s640/blogger-image-1087830266.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love, Light and Blessings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-43548196647702207882015-11-04T23:17:00.000-05:002015-11-04T23:17:22.478-05:00Random Things I'm Enjoying These Days!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was always creative but never considered myself an artist. Even as I started to blog almost five years ago and launched my ETSY jewelry shop some three years ago, I still could not call myself an artist.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have finally grown into my artist self. I feel blessed to have the presence of the arts in all it's many forms. I learned to play with watercolors a few years ago while at Liz Lameroux's BE PRESENT retreat. I ordered these sets of watercolors which I LOVE!!! &nbsp;I finally went and treated myself to a coloring book with paisleys. Ofcourse I used my 50% off coupon and so only paid around $6 for the book. I wasn't sure if the pages would hold up under the watercolor paints but it totally did. Here is a picture of the dining table from last week:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx1siHltwO8/VjMPiJfz69I/AAAAAAAAE1o/c0KUF9aSNec/s1600/FullSizeRender-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="620" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mx1siHltwO8/VjMPiJfz69I/AAAAAAAAE1o/c0KUF9aSNec/s640/FullSizeRender-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The coloring book, the Grumbacher watercolors, brushes that look beautiful in this old green coffee cup with the snowflakes on it, my empty Harvard cup that I enjoyed my Morrocan Mint Stash tea, a cup to rinse the brushes off and a sheet of paper towel to dab the excess paint off the brush before painting.<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-My6e32E6IeI/VjMPiTJgz5I/AAAAAAAAE00/s9UXjzCf8As/s1600/FullSizeRender-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-My6e32E6IeI/VjMPiTJgz5I/AAAAAAAAE00/s9UXjzCf8As/s640/FullSizeRender-11.jpg" width="624" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A work in progress.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGfrB21U_kc/VjMPihM4hKI/AAAAAAAAE04/OxFXzIjGqlA/s1600/FullSizeRender-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGfrB21U_kc/VjMPihM4hKI/AAAAAAAAE04/OxFXzIjGqlA/s640/FullSizeRender-12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">This heavenly smelling candle that makes this crackling sound as it burns.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BE0U_Rh2Yw/VjMPjFYJluI/AAAAAAAAE1A/VQMfuqFm-qE/s1600/FullSizeRender-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BE0U_Rh2Yw/VjMPjFYJluI/AAAAAAAAE1A/VQMfuqFm-qE/s640/FullSizeRender-13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You see, being Indian, I grew up in a family that valued the math and the sciences but not art. Although that's not entirely true.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My dad is very creative. He enjoys music like no one I know, and he loves acting in Jamatkhana (mosque) plays. He truly revels in the process of rehearsing his lines, putting together his costume and finally performing on stage. &nbsp;Dad is also very creative when it comes to building things. Home Depot is one of our favorite stores to go to when working on a new DIY project. It was a few years ago when we were brainstorming on ways to hang the curtains in our home, that I realized that I get my creative gene from my dad.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W5EBU-BE8-U/VjrWxjOwSaI/AAAAAAAAE4M/vsRz0RBYCXw/s1600/photo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W5EBU-BE8-U/VjrWxjOwSaI/AAAAAAAAE4M/vsRz0RBYCXw/s640/photo-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Mom on the other side is as left brain as they come. She is brilliant but not artistically inclined at all. But then again, she has a great eye for design when it comes to desi (Indian) clothes and jewelry.</span><br /><br /><br />So this is what I've been up to these days. Painting, a few DIY projects and creating new jewelry pieces brings me great joy. Most people partake in the annual tradition of spring cleaning but I've noticed that I tend to enjoy fall cleaning a lot more. Somehow, getting ready to start the holiday season with Thanksgiving around the corner and Christmas in the folds, I just love cleaning, purging, organizing and getting the home ready for the celebrations.<br /><br />Being able to create art is a blessing to me and one which I am very grateful for.<br />I pray you take some time to play a bit, no matter what the form.<br /><br />Thank you for reading.<br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-58971874082256686092015-10-30T04:34:00.000-04:002015-10-30T04:34:01.825-04:00The Picture of the Day Series - THE RAINBOW<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love taking pictures and I've decided to share just one picture everyday that I have taken more than likely with my IPhone 6 plus and have edited with my favorite photo editing app called, "Snapseed." I love this app although my eldest always teases me about my sub par photo editing skills.<br /><br />The goal is to share a picture a day with a one liner description. So here goes today's picture.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWCpTQckows/VjMnmESg_8I/AAAAAAAAE24/Gj43N9KEM7A/s1600/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWCpTQckows/VjMnmESg_8I/AAAAAAAAE24/Gj43N9KEM7A/s640/FullSizeRender-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;The rainbow over South Florida.</td></tr></tbody></table>Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-83429457099918804172015-10-30T04:24:00.000-04:002015-10-31T22:57:54.833-04:00Picture of the Day Series - Day 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtRUqcryCMg/VjMnl0YMJ3I/AAAAAAAAE3E/eESozTDR1rs/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XtRUqcryCMg/VjMnl0YMJ3I/AAAAAAAAE3E/eESozTDR1rs/s640/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rays of Sunlight peeking out from behind the heavy clouds.<br><br>Love, Light and Blessings<br>Anita</td></tr></tbody></table><br></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-34213726431962185092015-10-28T02:34:00.001-04:002015-10-28T02:35:29.368-04:00Books That Have Changed My Life For The Better! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I am often asked to recommend books and I've come to realize that I have a short list that I absolutely recommend to anyone and everyone. In fact, if it were up to me, these would be mandatory reading. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c45jadOG1qY/VjBl6dd9KNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/EMmRhJ30Ny0/s1600/student.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c45jadOG1qY/VjBl6dd9KNI/AAAAAAAAE0c/EMmRhJ30Ny0/s200/student.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear," is one of my favorite quotes. The teacher can be in the form of the lyrics of a song on the radio that suddenly resonate with you in that moment in time and deliver the precise message that you need. &nbsp;The teacher may also appear in the form of a simple conversation between friends. Other times, the teacher comes in the form of parts of a sermon that you were barely paying attention to, yet that one line just jolted you out of whatever rabbit hole your mind had wandered down to bring you back on your path. &nbsp;The teacher may also appear in the form of a book as they have for me, time and time again.<br /><br />I believe that we all have spirit guides and angels who guide us everyday. Now I know I might lose some of you at this point with this "woo woo" talk but humor me. These angels and spirit guides which I believe are assigned to me &nbsp;by my Higher Power aka God use many of the mediums mentioned above to guide me on my path. We are presented with opportunities to learn these lessons daily in many different forms but alas, we tend to miss many of them. The key I have found is to pay attention to that little voice in my heart and head that whispers, "Pay Attention Anita. This one is important." So I get myself out of my head and pay attention and on most days, get the lesson but there have been many times when I completely miss the lesson and so I get presented with more and more opportunities to learn the lessons. &nbsp;The storyline changes, the actors change but the lesson is always the one needed.<br /><br />So without further delay, here is a list of my favorite books of all times. Please note that that I am sharing them in no particular order. I do believe that you will read whichever one you need to read. Just be open!<br /><br />1. Seagull - Jonathan Livingston<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgvObKdWLds/VjBi6GrPOpI/AAAAAAAAEyc/H2nbi_5UXgo/s1600/seagull.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dgvObKdWLds/VjBi6GrPOpI/AAAAAAAAEyc/H2nbi_5UXgo/s200/seagull.jpeg" width="117" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />2. Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emhZt3hue54/VjBi_U2ni2I/AAAAAAAAEzs/4kYAmZE5MrY/s1600/celestne.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-emhZt3hue54/VjBi_U2ni2I/AAAAAAAAEzs/4kYAmZE5MrY/s200/celestne.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />3. Seven Spiritual Laws of Success - Deepak Chopra<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AvrwclHrP0/VjBjAjU3dGI/AAAAAAAAEzg/LieNg5PpKWE/s1600/seven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1AvrwclHrP0/VjBjAjU3dGI/AAAAAAAAEzg/LieNg5PpKWE/s200/seven.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />4. Conversations with God - Book 1 - Neale Donald Walsch - I read this book some 18 years ago before my children were born.<br />There is also a book 2 and 3 in this series along with another 20 some books that Neale has written and they are all excellent books but Book 1 remains my favorite. I actually had the opportunity to spend an entire week with this author &nbsp;a few years ago. I went to Oregon and met a group of 30 some people from all around the USA and the world and we had a once in a life time experience listening to this brilliant teacher in person.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VdMFpJUcSw/VjBi_EZD22I/AAAAAAAAEy0/wF7Gbf-1K38/s1600/book%2Bone.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VdMFpJUcSw/VjBi_EZD22I/AAAAAAAAEy0/wF7Gbf-1K38/s200/book%2Bone.jpeg" width="135" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />5. The Seat of the Soul - Gary Zukav - now this is a book that sat on my bookshelves for almost ten years. Every couple of years, I would pick it up and attempt to read it but just got lost in the heavy jargon and I would get frustrated and put it back on the shelf. Then some ten plus years later, I picked it up and started to read it and realized that I had already received the messages that were in this book except they had come to me in the form of other authors and their books. But I am still including it here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2GUu1SwIUU/VjBjAoXhV_I/AAAAAAAAEzc/THPJL_3-uv0/s1600/seat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x2GUu1SwIUU/VjBjAoXhV_I/AAAAAAAAEzc/THPJL_3-uv0/s200/seat.jpeg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />6. The Heart of the Soul - Gary Zukav - this book was life changing because it challenged me to really look at my behavior and forced me to face the underlying issues behind them. And as Maya Angelou said, "When you know better, you do better." Thus this book helped me "know myself better."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07IRpC6mtLk/VjBi_nN5qoI/AAAAAAAAEzk/i1Y--sQq2II/s1600/heart.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07IRpC6mtLk/VjBi_nN5qoI/AAAAAAAAEzk/i1Y--sQq2II/s200/heart.jpeg" width="130" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />7. 40 Rules of Love - Elif Shafaq - an exquisitely written book in the most simple form yet the author weaves the tales of two separate families (Rumi and Shams de Tabriz and the character of this woman in her late 40's/50's). The 40 rules of love are pearls of wisdom that are scattered throughout the book and made my heart sing with joy at discovering them. I can't say anymore without giving it away so I'll stop here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMU-Xdg9b-E/VjBi_HBp_qI/AAAAAAAAEz4/NYfn2h4Hqi0/s1600/40.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UMU-Xdg9b-E/VjBi_HBp_qI/AAAAAAAAEz4/NYfn2h4Hqi0/s200/40.jpeg" width="151" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />8.The Purpose Driven Life - by Rick Warren. This book kept showing up right around the time of my divorce some ten years ago until I finally realized that I was suppose to read this book. A MUST READ!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSJxx2s_WLI/VjBjABERlFI/AAAAAAAAEzU/RzwM6HfT650/s1600/purpose.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iSJxx2s_WLI/VjBjABERlFI/AAAAAAAAEzU/RzwM6HfT650/s200/purpose.jpeg" width="134" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />9. The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran - a short read but one you must take your time with. I read this book also some 18 years ago when I was pregnant with Aly (who is now 17 years old). The chapter on children along with Deepak Chopra's books have outlined how I've chosen to raise my boys. Essentially by honoring them as the individual souls that they are on their own journey. I understand that I have been entrusted with them but they are not my property to impose my own dreams and desires upon. I have and continue to encourage my boys to discover their gifts and use them to serve humanity. I believe that when you follow your passion, you never work a day in your life.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjAnQlYY5vo/VjBi_sMTPXI/AAAAAAAAEzE/BvZ-3agCwkA/s1600/kahlil.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NjAnQlYY5vo/VjBi_sMTPXI/AAAAAAAAEzE/BvZ-3agCwkA/s200/kahlil.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />10. The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo - this is a must read!!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waYNQl_iyhg/VjBjA34J28I/AAAAAAAAEzo/SaAAYIrVqpM/s1600/slchemist.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-waYNQl_iyhg/VjBjA34J28I/AAAAAAAAEzo/SaAAYIrVqpM/s200/slchemist.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />11. Brene Brown's books are fantastic and everyone should read them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtaa8QmUl4M/VjBkKUiYIYI/AAAAAAAAE0A/0QLESh1K2h0/s1600/daring.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vtaa8QmUl4M/VjBkKUiYIYI/AAAAAAAAE0A/0QLESh1K2h0/s200/daring.jpeg" width="131" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UYV461jrs/VjBkKV6SGXI/AAAAAAAAE0E/FdSRtN7nuRw/s1600/gifts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_UYV461jrs/VjBkKV6SGXI/AAAAAAAAE0E/FdSRtN7nuRw/s200/gifts.jpeg" width="133" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kESz1eORcis/VjBkKYfGYQI/AAAAAAAAE0U/D4rBMmQzS2E/s1600/rising.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kESz1eORcis/VjBkKYfGYQI/AAAAAAAAE0U/D4rBMmQzS2E/s200/rising.jpeg" width="142" /></a><br /><br /><br />12. Simple Abundance - A Daybook by Sarah Ban Breathnach.<br />This book literally saved my life. After Aly was born, I got hit with post partum depression. I was living in Tucson, Arizona with an 8 month old and a husband who was away all day long at work. We had only one car between us which left me stuck at home. Tucson is beautiful but we were renting an apartment in the hills which made it very difficult to just walk to places. I saw this author on Oprah and immediately bought the book and started reading and writing the gratitude journal as directed in this book. Within a month, I started to feel better and more positive.&nbsp;Many of us women tend to lose ourselves in the process of being someone's daughter, someone's wife and then someone's mother. We forget who were were prior to all of that and this book helped me uncover the layers to discover my own dreams and desires.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is a very powerful book for women. The author also wrote a version of this for men.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXJtGAI-Reo/VjBi_F2eWHI/AAAAAAAAEzw/n7Qswh8zHeQ/s1600/abundance.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXJtGAI-Reo/VjBi_F2eWHI/AAAAAAAAEzw/n7Qswh8zHeQ/s200/abundance.jpeg" width="117" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />13. The Laws of the Spirit World by Khorshed Bhavnagari - This book found me about a year ago and I am still working through it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3xhBS4zwZU/VjBi_w-705I/AAAAAAAAEzY/gVW7zSx3hJY/s1600/laws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F3xhBS4zwZU/VjBi_w-705I/AAAAAAAAEzY/gVW7zSx3hJY/s200/laws.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm sure there are many more books I could recommend and maybe in time, I'll write another post but this is it for now. Please do not rush through any of these books. Instead, take your time and read them and then re read them to really absorb the messages. These took me about 20 years to read as they found me or I found them only when I was ready for them.<br />Therefore, pay attention to which one tugs at your heart and go read that one first. The others will find you in time.<br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br /><br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-57333836077516374972015-10-27T01:41:00.001-04:002015-10-27T02:31:54.578-04:00Know Thy Worth!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: left;">Why am I writing this today? Well, something very interesting happened earlier today. I posted a new collection of handmade earrings on Facebook available to purchase at $18-$20 per pair and someone decided to make the following comment, "<span style="background-color: #e9eaed; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14.6182px;">Hmmm! None of them are attractive enough to spend 18 or 20 $". "</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the earrings I made and posted.</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVZceFgScnY/Vi8Fk-9dvkI/AAAAAAAAExY/V0_SrbtoXcg/s1600/earrings1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wVZceFgScnY/Vi8Fk-9dvkI/AAAAAAAAExY/V0_SrbtoXcg/s400/earrings1.jpg" width="300"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually made this frame today just to display these earrings. I used turquoise colored chalk paint on this frame and covered the insert with brown fabric only after stapling chicken wire to the inside of the frame. The entire thing took me less than an hour to put together and yes it's very messy from the back but it does the job.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 14.6182px;"><br></span></span><div><span style="background-color: #e9eaed; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14.6182px;"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">So now to make a few things clear, I don't know this person, nor am I friends with her on Facebook yet she not only took the time to check out my earrings but more importantly felt compelled to comment. Facebook notified me of a new comment on my post so I went to go read it and needless to say was taken back at first but then was simply amused. Ofcourse I responded with, "You are certainly entitled to your opinion." And then the messages and comments started. I started getting text messages on my cell and messages on FB ranging from, "On my God, she has no filter, I can't believe she said that," to "What a B....! You should block her." A few of my friends expressed their sadness &nbsp;that there was this much "hatred" out in the world. &nbsp;A friend who had immediately responded to my response to this comment was surprised at my what she called a "zen response." But my response was not intended to be zen - like. I simply took it as one person's opinion of art aka my earrings. Art is subjective and as the quote goes, "Beauty (and might I add, worth) is in the eyes of the beholder."&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">This comment or any other comment be it positive or negative is simply an opinion of the person expressing it. It's never personal and it certainly has nothing to do with the actual person or thing or event that this person is commenting about. &nbsp;And it certainly doesn't make her a bad person or a b.....<br>Abraham Hicks said it best.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CZIYRMuPoQ/Vi78n07iZQI/AAAAAAAAEw4/6QLIYPswmUY/s1600/people%2Bwill%2Blove%2Byou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1CZIYRMuPoQ/Vi78n07iZQI/AAAAAAAAEw4/6QLIYPswmUY/s400/people%2Bwill%2Blove%2Byou.jpg" width="300"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I am just like you. I want to be liked and respected. And until a few years ago, I cared very much about what other people thought of me. I was a people pleaser. But somewhere along the way, I learned a very important lesson. I learned my self worth. I am not perfect. In fact, far from it. I am flawed and have so many things that I could and should be improving upon. But I am a good human being. I know my strengths and I know my challenges and I choose what I want to work on or ignore. That is the beauty of the being alive and human. We have choices...tons of it from the minute we wake up in the morning till we get in bed. We get to choose our thoughts and our responses to our thoughts. We get to choose what we eat, wear, do or don't do. Now ofcourse, I can hear some of you now saying, "But we don't have a choice in having to work." Well, I beg to differ. We do have a choice. We simply choose not to blow off work. We choose instead to show up. We might feel that we don't have a choice but we always have a choice. Not making a choice is also a choice.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-5W989IEs/Vi8FkRd2zEI/AAAAAAAAExc/vE_g7o9-0A8/s1600/e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J9-5W989IEs/Vi8FkRd2zEI/AAAAAAAAExc/vE_g7o9-0A8/s200/e3.jpg" width="167"></a></div>&nbsp;<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lAO3nab3_M/Vi8FkQnyBUI/AAAAAAAAExg/Kjrl4aQRa3M/s1600/e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2lAO3nab3_M/Vi8FkQnyBUI/AAAAAAAAExg/Kjrl4aQRa3M/s200/e2.jpg" width="98"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GDHNHA-q5o/Vi8FkdGG4tI/AAAAAAAAExk/gbcTkgGZAaw/s1600/e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0GDHNHA-q5o/Vi8FkdGG4tI/AAAAAAAAExk/gbcTkgGZAaw/s200/e4.jpg" width="130"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another very important lesson I learned very early on was that every choice has a consequence. The word consequence tends to have a negative connotation but in my understanding of the word, a consequence is simply a result of a choice or an action. Consequences can be either positive or negative.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eEpu4TP39og/Vi8HHc3oExI/AAAAAAAAEx0/bX64hIeg9qs/s1600/3e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eEpu4TP39og/Vi8HHc3oExI/AAAAAAAAEx0/bX64hIeg9qs/s200/3e.jpg" width="150"></a></div>&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URFHOducwyo/Vi8HIBFbshI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/G-Rcr4KOfqY/s1600/e54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-URFHOducwyo/Vi8HIBFbshI/AAAAAAAAEyQ/G-Rcr4KOfqY/s200/e54.jpg" width="150"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8AKC1MKkpQ/Vi8HHW5T2qI/AAAAAAAAEyM/d08uPEyu1-E/s1600/33e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8AKC1MKkpQ/Vi8HHW5T2qI/AAAAAAAAEyM/d08uPEyu1-E/s200/33e.jpg" width="150"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most freeing realization was that I am me regardless of other people's opinion of me. Thus I don't take compliments personally nor do I take their criticism. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the compliments and welcome the criticism as a way to learn from them but they do not reflect who I am or what my worth is. It is simply the other person's perception. That's it. So back to the earrings conundrum. I obviously think they are beautiful therefore I made them and I know that they are worth more than the $18-20 that I have priced them at. The price of any art reflects the creativity, the time, the talent and the effort of the artist. I am blessed to know that I have enough people who like my work and want more of it and for that I am grateful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But not everything I create will be liked by everyone and that's okay. People are entitled to their opinion but it has nothing to do with me or my work. Now as far as the lady who commented is concerned, I commend her on following through when she felt compelled to. I wish her well and life goes on. Thank you for reading!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Love, Light and Blessings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anita</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">PS: Good news is that the earrings are going fast! :)&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div></div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-38254641659121135922015-10-22T23:31:00.000-04:002015-10-22T23:31:40.265-04:00Playing in the streets of Mumbai!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I took these pictures while visiting Mumbai, India. The date was January 1, 2012.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These little boys found entertainment playing in the putrid, standing gutter water. Notice the boys aren't wearing any footwear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzNG1-zOk3k/Ux_synxcHnI/AAAAAAAAD64/FWXdakzlE_k/s1600/DSCN5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzNG1-zOk3k/Ux_synxcHnI/AAAAAAAAD64/FWXdakzlE_k/s640/DSCN5403.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-100MjI6ebGw/Ux_syoQWK5I/AAAAAAAAD68/OcpUU6dk1wA/s1600/DSCN5404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-100MjI6ebGw/Ux_syoQWK5I/AAAAAAAAD68/OcpUU6dk1wA/s640/DSCN5404.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I noticed this mother sitting on the side of the road waiting for God knows what as her kids waited with her. The daughter should have been carrying a toy doll but instead was carrying her youngest sibling.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How are they able to walk on these rough streets with no shoes?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm guessing the mother probably works as a cleaning lady somewhere and this happens to be her day off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWTXIRDWnBU/Ux_syngfT1I/AAAAAAAAD60/TUuABEsilGs/s1600/DSCN5405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWTXIRDWnBU/Ux_syngfT1I/AAAAAAAAD60/TUuABEsilGs/s640/DSCN5405.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P09wk96YYCo/Ux_s1RmzCuI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/ni3lSB7WPhs/s1600/DSCN5408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P09wk96YYCo/Ux_s1RmzCuI/AAAAAAAAD7Y/ni3lSB7WPhs/s640/DSCN5408.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coQRt6LWzDQ/Ux_s12UJ99I/AAAAAAAAD7c/OqsxSUklW28/s1600/DSCN5409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-coQRt6LWzDQ/Ux_s12UJ99I/AAAAAAAAD7c/OqsxSUklW28/s640/DSCN5409.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ay8uSy-l_l4/Ux_s2uXOuwI/AAAAAAAAD7o/sg4S0_H33qI/s1600/DSCN5410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ay8uSy-l_l4/Ux_s2uXOuwI/AAAAAAAAD7o/sg4S0_H33qI/s640/DSCN5410.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And just like that, they decided to get up and go on with their day. I was terrified yet intrigued as I watched this young girl probably no more than seven or eight years old, balance this baby on her hip.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8RJ4wzKXKo/Ux_s3L3SiaI/AAAAAAAAD7s/BcJfMjCtOwE/s1600/DSCN5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8RJ4wzKXKo/Ux_s3L3SiaI/AAAAAAAAD7s/BcJfMjCtOwE/s640/DSCN5411.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-31420538556854628172015-06-21T18:13:00.000-04:002015-06-21T18:13:04.410-04:00Mangoes in Miami!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-du6lN7ar2aA/VYc0F1jIxlI/AAAAAAAAEwE/Qj-Y6Ol-3tQ/s640/blogger-image--803165300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ncNS-W_5KE/VYc0EOLPyBI/AAAAAAAAEv8/ExeCZfnYhV8/s640/blogger-image-260878696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ncNS-W_5KE/VYc0EOLPyBI/AAAAAAAAEv8/ExeCZfnYhV8/s640/blogger-image-260878696.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pNKm96UQsZs/VYc0JfyMAuI/AAAAAAAAEwU/DLCTl-1512c/s640/blogger-image--1660027012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Living in Florida is like living in paradise; at least my version of paradise. The sky is almost always blue. The ocean is just a short drive awayThe temperature is a warm and comfortable 75 degrees even in the winter months and beautiful palm trees and coconut trees line our backyard. Check out this beautiful fruit hanging off the branches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /><br /><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1ncNS-W_5KE/VYc0EOLPyBI/AAAAAAAAEv8/ExeCZfnYhV8/s640/blogger-image-260878696.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-du6lN7ar2aA/VYc0F1jIxlI/AAAAAAAAEwE/Qj-Y6Ol-3tQ/s640/blogger-image--803165300.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kcS_P3lThDM/VYc0CkTSGGI/AAAAAAAAEv0/XxdCdqOcdKo/s640/blogger-image-244556369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kcS_P3lThDM/VYc0CkTSGGI/AAAAAAAAEv0/XxdCdqOcdKo/s640/blogger-image-244556369.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CbqGzoqStAI/VYc0HhljB-I/AAAAAAAAEwM/ewxpwlO4KZU/s640/blogger-image-804148094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CbqGzoqStAI/VYc0HhljB-I/AAAAAAAAEwM/ewxpwlO4KZU/s640/blogger-image-804148094.jpg" /></a></div><br />Love, Light and Blessings<br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-16739544929409109692015-02-22T09:28:00.003-05:002015-02-22T09:35:31.950-05:00Carrot Slaw & Coconut Curry Chicken.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">was reading an older issue of "How to Create Business" and came across this gorgeous recipee book by Erin Gleeson called "The Forest Feast". What intrigued me was that it had beautiful photographs and painting that had the recipes illustrated in the pages. Also the recipes are supposed to be healthy and easy to make. &nbsp;I simply had to have my own copy. I'm so excited to share that it is as beautiful and as practical to use as described.&nbsp;</span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x7KRA26I-Es/VK0d5TlUk9I/AAAAAAAAEuY/o95y8Ts_CAo/s640/blogger-image-1310845722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-x7KRA26I-Es/VK0d5TlUk9I/AAAAAAAAEuY/o95y8Ts_CAo/s320/blogger-image-1310845722.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The recipes are all vegetarian and look easy to prepare.&nbsp;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I tried and made this carrot slaw that was super easy to make and delicious and most importantly healthy! My kids actually asked for seconds.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tyv6nGNtLOQ/VK0eBcbzmxI/AAAAAAAAEu4/42VqkEh1i5Y/s640/blogger-image-1010824526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tyv6nGNtLOQ/VK0eBcbzmxI/AAAAAAAAEu4/42VqkEh1i5Y/s400/blogger-image-1010824526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My other new favorite thing to cook in a hurry is this delicious coconut curry chicken that takes me 10 minutes to prepare.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I start off with shredding up a store bought rotisserie chicken and placing in a pan.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q4yI3pTIlxo/VK0d7HNneRI/AAAAAAAAEug/AtpFUS--fKQ/s640/blogger-image-652982147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q4yI3pTIlxo/VK0d7HNneRI/AAAAAAAAEug/AtpFUS--fKQ/s320/blogger-image-652982147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CdF2b9AVGK4/VK0d3ao6L9I/AAAAAAAAEuQ/hhpLTm4OR1A/s640/blogger-image--373375532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CdF2b9AVGK4/VK0d3ao6L9I/AAAAAAAAEuQ/hhpLTm4OR1A/s320/blogger-image--373375532.jpg" width="160" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span>I added this&nbsp;jar of Coconut Curry Simmering Sauce from the Stonewall Kitchen company (available in Fresh Market - $10 a jar) to the pan with the shredded chicken along with a cup or two of water to avoid the chicken sticking to the pan. Let it simmer and heat up and serve with some warmed up bread and butter. &nbsp;I've written about this in a different post about my favorite things but this is soo good that it's worth mentioning again.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few more pictures of the different pages from the recipe book.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I can't wait to try out these other recipes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EsgA0VS5y_k/VK0eDcK-V0I/AAAAAAAAEvA/S1DBsbkGhYk/s640/blogger-image--2103008652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EsgA0VS5y_k/VK0eDcK-V0I/AAAAAAAAEvA/S1DBsbkGhYk/s400/blogger-image--2103008652.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IUrYnRuIsDw/VK0d9Xcf2WI/AAAAAAAAEuo/g2Zf7nFiYBU/s640/blogger-image--1327661993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IUrYnRuIsDw/VK0d9Xcf2WI/AAAAAAAAEuo/g2Zf7nFiYBU/s400/blogger-image--1327661993.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-41MhdP3qlfA/VK0d_ab3FfI/AAAAAAAAEuw/PkwqrrLXMFM/s640/blogger-image--1805171311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-41MhdP3qlfA/VK0d_ab3FfI/AAAAAAAAEuw/PkwqrrLXMFM/s400/blogger-image--1805171311.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br /><br />Anita</div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-44356277624635150302015-02-19T23:13:00.000-05:002015-02-23T00:40:02.759-05:00So you want to kill yourself?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Life is beautiful and shitty! Life is full of ups and downs. &nbsp;Happy times and sad times and then we have those gut wrenching, life changing, heart cracking, you never being the same you times, which brings pain that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. &nbsp;Failure in any form is painful, be it getting fired, &nbsp;going through a divorce, being cheated on, lied to, losing your house, your business, your spouse, your kids, your life as you knew it. Yes, I get it. Trust me I do.<br /><br />I am a survivor. I have survived sexual abuse. I have survived moving to a new country without any papers and getting stopped by my so called classmates, big white boys in 8th grade who were bullies and decided to stop me as I was walking into math class to ask me, "Where is your green card?" And me mumbling something about, "I don't carry it with me." Of course I didn't have any legal status until a couple decades later when I not only got my green card but actually took the oath and became an American citizen.<br /><br />Then there was divorce almost ten years ago. My life turned upside down. My head was in a fog. I didn't know who I was as my identity as the wife of a handsome pilot was no more. I was still a mom, and being that I had two little boys under the age of six, I had to keep going. I had to for their sake. So I did!<br /><br />Have I thought about ending it? Checking out? Killing myself? I can't even begin to tell you how many times that thought has crossed my mind since being just a little girl back in India. But things were never bad enough for me to want to check out.<br /><br />Suicide is the desire to want to end one's pain. &nbsp;Suicide is one's desire to end one's life by any means possible because one feels stuck in a deep, dark pit with no way out. Suicide might begin to appear as this easy way out. It may even begin to sound like an enchanting idea until it almost becomes like an obsession. But let me tell you....suicide is never the answer. There is no judgement on my part. I get the pain. I do! But sadly, I've also been around to witness the aftermath that the family and friends of those checking out are left behind to deal with. It might seem like the only out, the only end to the hopelessness one might feel. But PLEASE BELIEVE ME...IT'S NOT. Suicide is not the answer. Checking out is NEVER THE SOLUTION.<br /><br />I have my own spiritual understanding of how and why we choose to be born. I believe that we pick when we want to be born. We pick the loved ones, our fellow souls that we make soul agreements with, to learn and grow from each other. We choose the lessons we would like to learn in this lifetime, in this body, so that our soul can get one step closer to it's final goal of being self realized. But when we decide to check out, to end this life; we just decided to not complete our end of the agreement. I don't know why I know this, but I do know that when you end your life, the minute you end your life, you will experience guilt and regret at having ended it. I also know that at some point, you will choose to come back so that you can work on the same or different lessons. But then you must start by being born and going through childhood, the awkward teenage years and finally being an adult.<br /><br /><br />So on a day when life just gets to be too much, here are a few things you might try not in any particular order:<br /><br />- Call it a night and go to bed early. I find that even the worst of situations look and feel better after a good night's rest.<br /><br />- Call a friend and talk about it. But make sure you pick the right kind of friend who will be emphatic and listen instead of a friend who might end up projecting their own unresolved conflicts upon you.<br /><br />- PRAY! Talk to HIM. Ask Him to help you. Surrender to Him and watch things unfold. Trust HIM!<br /><br />- Go for a run or a swim. Exercise and let your natural endorphins kick in to level your mood. I realize that these won't solve whatever life problems you're dealing with, but it will, Inshallah (God willing), give you the oomph you need to keep going.<br /><br />- If things get dire, please seek professional help. Go see a psychiatrist or your primary doctor and discuss the possibility of getting on some kind of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. It might just be for a month or two but even if its for longer, so be it. A calm and stable you is much more important that the inconvenience of taking medications daily.<br /><br />- Go talk to a therapist/ psychologist, social worker or counselor. Talking to a professional is very different than talking to your best friend. In my experience, friends and associates tend to stay away from a sad/depressed person like rats fleeing a ship. Or give you a very biased unsolicited opinion on your situation at hand and perhaps do more harm than good. But a trained therapist will help you work through your thoughts and feelings so that you have clarity and eventually peace of mind.<br /><br />- Call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1-800-273-TALK (8255). </b>There is someone at the other end of the line who will listen to you and help you get through the night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Pastor and popular author, Rob Bell, has explained that the fact that you're breathing means that your life matters. &nbsp;To have been given the gift of breath means that one's been given the gift of life. He explains that each of our life matters because we all individually have a purpose, every last one of us has a purpose. So face life with an open and loving heart and an adventurous spirit as you live your purpose or at least work on figuring out what that is.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love, Light and Blessings,</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Anita</span></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-63649807019101147412015-01-04T18:34:00.000-05:002015-01-04T18:34:11.184-05:00Upholstering Our Headboard.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">My brother and sister in law have this headboard that they bought almost 5 years ago. Its this beautiful contemporary piece with a dark wood frame and white leather. But the leather has been peeling off and making a big mess for over a year now. I was asked if I could upholster it given that the headboard itself is a very well made piece of furniture.<br /><br />So Zee, my sister in law and I went to our local Hobby Lobby store, which happens to be my favorite these days. We picked out 3 yards of this beautiful dark chocolate colored faux leather fabric. We needed about 2.5 yards but we bought three to be able to comfortably work with it. The fabric was $25 per yard and the total before taxes would have been $75. But we had a coupon for 40% off and therefore, ended up paying about $45 with tax.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iRuv61blFM8/VJ_SPLDsn7I/AAAAAAAAEs0/Ho617kpr6jk/s640/blogger-image-260903181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iRuv61blFM8/VJ_SPLDsn7I/AAAAAAAAEs0/Ho617kpr6jk/s320/blogger-image-260903181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I picked up 3 yards of a thicker batting from Joanne's Fabric store. I didn't find the thickness I wanted at Hobby Lobby. And after using my 40% coupon at Joanne's, I paid about $15 only for the batting.<br /><br />Additional supplies needed include:<br />- an electrical staple gun although just a good quality manual staple gun would do the job as well.<br />- a hot glue gun<br />- a basic desk stapler.<br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />We were ready to get started. <br />A very important thing to know when doing a project this large in size (vs a simple chair for example) is that you'll need help. This is a two person job.<br />Fortunately, I had my eldest, Aly and my dear friend, Natasha help me.<br />We started by draping the batting over the headboard and pulling it snug at the ends and corners. We stapled it to the wood part of the headboard. But we still had the ends sticking out since we couldn't staple through the soft leather part of the headboard. So we used our glue gun to adhere the batting to the back of the headboard.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_z-B7CayzAY/VJ_SRJr5nhI/AAAAAAAAEs8/mgkWp7Rsl1o/s640/blogger-image-1131711929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_z-B7CayzAY/VJ_SRJr5nhI/AAAAAAAAEs8/mgkWp7Rsl1o/s320/blogger-image-1131711929.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qIJtRaeLjsU/VJ_SLSgcdxI/AAAAAAAAEsk/vcAmjLw2uh4/s640/blogger-image-1226300689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qIJtRaeLjsU/VJ_SLSgcdxI/AAAAAAAAEsk/vcAmjLw2uh4/s320/blogger-image-1226300689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Next we draped the faux leather fabric over it and repeated the stapling making sure it was toward the back of the board which would not be visible from the front. We played around with the corners until we finally found a nice clean corner fold. Once again, we glued the back to the bed using the hot glue gun. Also, we used the basic desk stapler to hold the fabric in place before gluing it.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GQM2GEs5DYU/VJ_SNOCGImI/AAAAAAAAEss/yGs9pVU5WpY/s640/blogger-image-2133490457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GQM2GEs5DYU/VJ_SNOCGImI/AAAAAAAAEss/yGs9pVU5WpY/s320/blogger-image-2133490457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mN9Xkut870w/VJ_SWlhwHTI/AAAAAAAAEtU/LKSPJJgMPUs/s640/blogger-image--1279061017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mN9Xkut870w/VJ_SWlhwHTI/AAAAAAAAEtU/LKSPJJgMPUs/s320/blogger-image--1279061017.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><br />Once finished, we proudly invited the family to come check it out. I'm happy to say that it actually turned out pretty nice.<br />And cost under $60<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lFs_Iq2k_bo/VJ_SJmKaFoI/AAAAAAAAEsc/WAM8M9ybmNU/s640/blogger-image--1832241929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lFs_Iq2k_bo/VJ_SJmKaFoI/AAAAAAAAEsc/WAM8M9ybmNU/s320/blogger-image--1832241929.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><br />And while they were cleaning up, putting the mattress back on and making the bed, we girls decided to take a few selfies.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wQ6gR1-KU_U/VJ_Wvwvoi1I/AAAAAAAAEuA/q15-9l1dYEs/s640/blogger-image--472368813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wQ6gR1-KU_U/VJ_Wvwvoi1I/AAAAAAAAEuA/q15-9l1dYEs/s320/blogger-image--472368813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6CczLBSlvXw/VJ_WoPslr7I/AAAAAAAAEtg/4onw3zfrQLs/s640/blogger-image--1101138290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6CczLBSlvXw/VJ_WoPslr7I/AAAAAAAAEtg/4onw3zfrQLs/s320/blogger-image--1101138290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SWEET, DELICIOUS KISSES!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lNVPonRTmzc/VJ_Wt9YM9gI/AAAAAAAAEt4/sDPcisJKDJU/s640/blogger-image-2075351404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lNVPonRTmzc/VJ_Wt9YM9gI/AAAAAAAAEt4/sDPcisJKDJU/s320/blogger-image-2075351404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Here are the two cousins together.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AbyjMZ7EkIY/VJ_Wr0dE-BI/AAAAAAAAEtw/iXryn8VnfSM/s640/blogger-image-652382993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AbyjMZ7EkIY/VJ_Wr0dE-BI/AAAAAAAAEtw/iXryn8VnfSM/s320/blogger-image-652382993.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Even dadima got a kiss from Mahi.<br /><br />The cool thing about a project like this is that one can use any fabric to reflect their decorating style.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-19zKf2LakiY/VJ_WqO04nMI/AAAAAAAAEto/XBq4cY4Spf8/s640/blogger-image-781534144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-19zKf2LakiY/VJ_WqO04nMI/AAAAAAAAEto/XBq4cY4Spf8/s640/blogger-image-781534144.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Please do share photos of any projects you are working on.<br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita<br /><br /></div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-27036258222401610092014-12-27T02:33:00.001-05:002014-12-27T16:07:59.734-05:00Handmade Christmas Tree Ornaments.I love the holiday season! I love Christmas! The house gets decked out for Christmas with my Santa Claus collection on the coffee table, Christmas wreaths on the front doors and the outside of the house decorated with bright, colorful&nbsp;Christmas lights. We are actually practicing Muslims, but Christmas or more like the holiday season is just such a festive time of the year that it doesn't matter what religion you practice, we can all participate in the joy and cheer and goodwill of the season. The&nbsp;tradition is that after Thanksgiving we put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house with the garlands, red ribbons and bows along the staircase&nbsp;banister. And of course let's not forget the beautiful twinkly lights that are adorn the banister, and everywhere else possible.&nbsp;<div><br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mcv9haZvpZw/VJ5grWQ2XRI/AAAAAAAAErs/vKTNFZwKON8/s640/blogger-image-1794279406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mcv9haZvpZw/VJ5grWQ2XRI/AAAAAAAAErs/vKTNFZwKON8/s640/blogger-image-1794279406.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>But this year, because I knew I was going to be away the day after Thanksgiving on a cruise with the family, I decided to go ahead and put the Christmas tree up a week before Thanksgiving.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>We use to get real trees when growing up in Chicago. The ritual of going with my dad to go pick out the tree, then bringing it home and placing it in the tree stand filled with water. And because the trees had been sitting outside in the frigid parking lot somewhere, we couldn't start decorating the tree the same day or even the day after we brought it home. &nbsp;We had to wait a couple of days at the least to let the tree thaw out and open up. Since living in Florida for the last 14 years I've given up on buying real trees. Due to the extreme heat we don't have to worry about thawing out the tree once we bring it home. Our problem instead is ensuring that we keep the tree hydrated to avoid fires.&nbsp;Also living in Florida, I haven't had carpets in any of the homes I've lived in. Instead I've had marble or wood floors. And the idea of sweeping up the pins every day was enough to drive me straight to the store to pick up a nice artificial tree. I've had this tree for the past eight years now. Although the original lights don't work, I simply wrap a couple of strings of the bright twinkly lights and we're good to go.&nbsp;</div><div>The&nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">advantage of having a real tree is that the whole house smells christmasy like the pine. But I've compensated by picking up these pine sticks which &nbsp;make the home smell Christmasy.&nbsp;</span></div><div><div><br></div><div>My favorite part about putting up the tree is unpacking all the many handmade ornaments from when the boys were in pre-K and-kindergarten. Our tree is a very simple tree but it is absolutely beautiful to me because every ornament has some kind of memory or significance to it. I've picked up ornaments over the years every time I've traveled&nbsp;around the world. I've also picked up ornaments from the different Broadway shows that we've seen. And have made a few over the years. But I realized this year that I haven't updated or added any new personalized ornaments in a year or two so I vowed &nbsp;to make up for that this year. I simply change the ribbon on the tree and it has a new look every year.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I had a few choices of customizable ornaments available to me at my local arts and crafts supply store. They have these clear glass balls which open up from the top. One can use those to fill up with different things or even squeeze a picture if you'd like. I knew for sure that I didn't want to use glass but instead was delighted to find these circular acrylic ornaments which open up in half, &nbsp;making it extremely easy to work with. The first batch that I worked on our gifts for my sister-in-law and brother and their new baby who are celebrating their first Christmas in their new home. They have a beautiful tree with a few store-bought ornaments and I promised them that Iwould make &nbsp;them a small&nbsp;collection of personalized ornaments to add to their tree. Unfortunately due to the busy time of the year and studying for my LCSW exams , which, thank God I passed on December 6 of this year, I wasn't able to get them done until the day after Christmas which happens to be today.&nbsp;</div><div>So here are a few pictures with basic instructions of how I made them.&nbsp;</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8PX9AOT6n8w/VJ5gla3RxMI/AAAAAAAAErU/93z5b6YiU7Y/s640/blogger-image--158947129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8PX9AOT6n8w/VJ5gla3RxMI/AAAAAAAAErU/93z5b6YiU7Y/s640/blogger-image--158947129.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I opened up the ornament and removed the center circular paper and placed it aside. Next I painted on a thin layer of Modge Podge &nbsp;on the inside part of one half. I next sprinkled glitter, carefully ensuring it covered the entire surface. I chose Christmasy colors of red, green and gold. But you may choose any color glitter to coordinate your tree theme.&nbsp;I let them all sit out for couple of hours to dry.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R_AtnT8qyR4/VJ5gxjol3_I/AAAAAAAAEsE/qbDRv2afVoQ/s640/blogger-image-1620436216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R_AtnT8qyR4/VJ5gxjol3_I/AAAAAAAAEsE/qbDRv2afVoQ/s640/blogger-image-1620436216.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--MnlYrBJDoM/VJ5gpWXL7lI/AAAAAAAAErk/DdX-sUYNnCA/s640/blogger-image--2125615713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--MnlYrBJDoM/VJ5gpWXL7lI/AAAAAAAAErk/DdX-sUYNnCA/s640/blogger-image--2125615713.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>This is what it look like when the Modge Podge was still wet. A few hours later after the Modge podge had dried, this is what they looked like.&nbsp;</div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tdH2EoYwtwE/VJ5gtrT6FII/AAAAAAAAEr0/qMeqYTfmA5Y/s640/blogger-image-2073590370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tdH2EoYwtwE/VJ5gtrT6FII/AAAAAAAAEr0/qMeqYTfmA5Y/s640/blogger-image-2073590370.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Well these were drying, I used my Creative Memories cutting system from 16 years ago to trace out the circular shape. &nbsp;I just happen to have one of the stencils that fit the size perfectly but you can also simply use the inserts that comes in the ornament to trace on the picture and then simply cut with a pair of scissors. After I had cut all the photographs, I use the double-sided scrapbooking tape applicator, and taped the circular pictures to the circular inserts.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gy3dJRJf4tE/VJ5gzu_iYEI/AAAAAAAAEsM/XJ2pjkQdqLA/s640/blogger-image--1039204056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gy3dJRJf4tE/VJ5gzu_iYEI/AAAAAAAAEsM/XJ2pjkQdqLA/s640/blogger-image--1039204056.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next I carefully wiped away any glitter on the&nbsp;inside of the other side. Then I closed the ornament and used a little bit of hot glue gun to seal the ornament.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I used ribbons that had kind of a Christmas feel to it, to decorate the outside of the ornament. I simply used a piece of ribbon and glued it to the top part of the ornament. This served two purposes which included covering the top part where it joins together and adding a decorative touch.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OVATwpLZP48/VJ5gi9rf0fI/AAAAAAAAErM/IAJXdlzAgz0/s640/blogger-image-1540201450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OVATwpLZP48/VJ5gi9rf0fI/AAAAAAAAErM/IAJXdlzAgz0/s640/blogger-image-1540201450.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hand wrote "2014" on each picture using a simple black pen.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nN0C74uImI/VJ5ggCasuhI/AAAAAAAAErE/JwjdLrP8pWk/s640/blogger-image--1701491778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7nN0C74uImI/VJ5ggCasuhI/AAAAAAAAErE/JwjdLrP8pWk/s640/blogger-image--1701491778.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here are the first batch of Christmas ornaments for my sweetheart's tree.&nbsp;<br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And this is what one of the ornaments look like hanging on my Christmas tree.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NVfjBLYqz9c/VJ5gnNwKy1I/AAAAAAAAErc/de3N7JhRv18/s640/blogger-image-47166200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NVfjBLYqz9c/VJ5gnNwKy1I/AAAAAAAAErc/de3N7JhRv18/s640/blogger-image-47166200.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The other ornaments you see hanging toward the bottom of the picture are little notes that the teachers had sent home or the kids had written when they were in pre-K or kindergarten.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I intend on making another batch of the circular ones along with a few others sometime this weekend for our tree.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here's another picture of our Christmas tree at home.&nbsp;<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FtnG7rAj7TI/VJ5gviKpKsI/AAAAAAAAEr8/0kER225WwBM/s640/blogger-image--101587085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FtnG7rAj7TI/VJ5gviKpKsI/AAAAAAAAEr8/0kER225WwBM/s640/blogger-image--101587085.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Supply list:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Acrylic ornaments that open up in half</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mod Podge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Disposable paint brush</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Glitter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Circular cutter or scissors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tape runner or double sided tape or glue stick&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Festive ribbon of your choice</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Glue gun/ glue sticks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Your photographs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Merry Christmas and wishing you all a very happy new year.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love, light, and blessings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anita</div></div></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><br></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-86073140230369988552014-12-21T11:00:00.000-05:002014-12-23T23:28:57.570-05:00Guilty pleasures!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I love fresh baked bread or for that matter, any bread! And butter! 😊<br><div>I am is on the lookout for fresh delicious bread and the best tasting butter I can get my hands on in North America. And I am happy to share that I have found it! Thanks to sweet friend Marcia!&nbsp;<br><br><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ywYs_1Mg8W4/VJXnJL3vt2I/AAAAAAAAEqI/sjwK0sSQSIo/s640/blogger-image-1921632080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ywYs_1Mg8W4/VJXnJL3vt2I/AAAAAAAAEqI/sjwK0sSQSIo/s320/blogger-image-1921632080.jpg" width="320"></a></div></div><div>This is available in your our local Fresh Market store. If you don't have a Fresh Market in your state, I'm sure you can find it at whatever natural health food store you have. Cost $5.50. But worth every penny.&nbsp;</div><div><br><br>And as we were walking through our local Fresh Market store, we try the sample coconut curry with chicken and it was love at first taste.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-puDG8hDzS_s/VJZe9FCNhPI/AAAAAAAAEqs/LpjNIoYimw0/s640/blogger-image-559162356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-puDG8hDzS_s/VJZe9FCNhPI/AAAAAAAAEqs/LpjNIoYimw0/s320/blogger-image-559162356.jpg" width="240"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Cost about $10 per jar.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I picked up some rotisserie chicken, brought it home and deboned it, put it in a pan along with half the jar and let it simmer. I added another quarter of the jar to give it the strong flavor. It's got a little bit of a kick to it and it's perfect!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Evmr_6xHXd8/VJZe_E4VbbI/AAAAAAAAEq0/06EPCpvWF8A/s640/blogger-image-1285107888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Evmr_6xHXd8/VJZe_E4VbbI/AAAAAAAAEq0/06EPCpvWF8A/s320/blogger-image-1285107888.jpg" width="240"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the perfect meal for a cold evening like today.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My new favorite bread is sourdough!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-syXt8sMWxAQ/VJZe62i49yI/AAAAAAAAEqk/_bYp8-sNHv8/s640/blogger-image--931665543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-syXt8sMWxAQ/VJZe62i49yI/AAAAAAAAEqk/_bYp8-sNHv8/s320/blogger-image--931665543.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SfkJjx96aPg/VJXo_asTd2I/AAAAAAAAEqU/1hUZIH3Mwcg/s640/blogger-image-2087980409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SfkJjx96aPg/VJXo_asTd2I/AAAAAAAAEqU/1hUZIH3Mwcg/s400/blogger-image-2087980409.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And the kids loved it too!! Win! Win!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love, Light and Blessings,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anita</div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-23806624882912926972014-12-20T15:58:00.000-05:002014-12-20T15:58:25.644-05:00Why Relationships Fail!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: #ad966c; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br /></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1614822023181350312" itemprop="articleBody" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #ad966c; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17.920000076293945px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 500px; word-spacing: 0px;"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />I'm reposting this on here ...its a piece I wrote for another blog...<br /><br />Whether it's a friendship, a romantic relationship, a working relationship or marriage, in my humble opinion, the underlying reason for any relationship's failure can be attributed to&nbsp;<i><b>disrespect.</b></i><br /><br />I've been happily divorced and single for almost ten years now and I've done my fair share of datingit took me too long to recognize disrespect. But after all these years, I think I can easily claim to be someone of an expert in the matter.<i>&nbsp;</i>Be it as simple and obvious as being spoken to rudely or as subtle as someone not considering your feelings or your time. According to the dictionary, disrespect is a lack of respect or courtesy. &nbsp;In my definition, disrespect is when I am overlooked; when my needs are not considered or when my feelings are not considered.<br /><br />Here are a few other forms of disrespect:<br />- Verbal abuse: Being cursed at. Someone calling you names or belittling you, even if, &nbsp;to them it's "just a joke".<br /><br />- Physical Abuse or emotional abuse.<br /><br />- Checking out another person while with your partner.<br /><br />- I believe in complete transparency and welcome the opportunity to discuss anything and everything with my mate. But there are those who don't enjoy talking. It's either never a good time or they simply don't like to talk. Either way, an unwillingness to communicate is just disrespectful to the sanctity of the relationship because open and honest communication is one of the key ingredients to a successful relationship.<br /><br />- Asking your partner for money. Gosh do I have stories to share. which I won't of course. I am always taken back by this one. How do men and for that matter, even women, ask their partner for money or for them to buy them things. Now I understand when a couple is committed to each other and have agreed to share their financial resources and responsibilities, but I am referring to a new couple that is perhaps still only dating. And yet, I wish I could forget how many times, a man has in a direct or a not so direct way, asked me to buy him a cell phone, pay his phone bill, loan him money for God alone knows what etc... Pathetic!!! And being the sucker that I was, until recently, I would give the money (no more than $50) but then walk away from this person forever!!! In my head, I paid the price for failing to recognize the slime ball that the person was. I guess my Catholic school upbringing continues to hover over me in my need to feel punished for my "bad" choices. :)<br /><br />This is just the beginning of a what I'm sure, is a very long list. Since the intention of this blog is to initiate a conversation among friends, I am hoping, you'll share your thoughts on the subject. Of course, you have the option of posting a comment as "anonymous", but it's always more gratifying for me as a blogger to know who I'm interacting with. But I leave that to your discretion. Either way, please do share any other examples of disrespect that come to mind.<br /><br />Everyone deserves love!!! And it starts with self-love!<br /><br />Anita</div><div style="clear: both;"></div></div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-38109308437421517952014-12-19T01:11:00.001-05:002014-12-19T01:11:45.058-05:00Saying Goodbye To 2014 and Preparing For 2015!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hello fellow travelers on this journey of life. As we come to the end of 2014, and get ready to bring in 2015, I am getting ready to do what I have done for many years now. Thought I'd share it with you here.<br /><br />I find a place to sit and reflect about how my year went, revisit the goals and intentions I had set at the end of the year before and take stock. Next I write down my intentions/ goals for the next year. &nbsp;Some are the same, others change and new ones are added. <br /><br />This year I intend to use this workbook put together by Susanna Conway. She is awesome! and here is a link to download a free copy.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.susannahconway.com/2014/12/lets-make-some-magic-in-2015/">http://www.susannahconway.com/2014/12/lets-make-some-magic-in-2015/</a><br /><br />I don't like setting New Year's Resolutions because I never seem to stick to them past the second week in January. Thus I stopped making them years ago. Instead, I like the idea of setting intentions. I found an awesome and very creative way of documenting my intentions for 2015. It was in the Somerset magazine.<br /><br />It was in this issue which you can buy at your local craft store, in Barnes and Nobles or on Amazon.<br /><br /><a href="http://stampington.com/somerset-life">http://stampington.com/somerset-life</a><br /><br />It involves using chalkboard paint to transform a flip book that you can then write an intention or two with a chalk marker. If you haven't tried a chalk marker, you must!!! They are erasable but don't smudge as easily as regular chalk.<br /><br />Here is a link to some fun and easy projects using chalkboard paint...which is my latest little guilty pleasure. I bought a pint of it from Hobby Lobby but haven't had the time to start with it. I have a feeling that once I start painting with it, I'll be out of control. Well...I'll let you know.<br /><br />Here is the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/07/06/20-diy-chalkboard-projects/">http://www.thinkingcloset.com/2013/07/06/20-diy-chalkboard-projects/</a><br /><br />So some of my intentions/goals for 2015 are: <br /><br />- Eat cleaner.<br />- Walk more.<br />- Keep up with Project Life<br />- Plan and facilitate a women's retreat this year.<br />- Organize and maintain my studio space<br />- Be open to love in all of its forms<br />- Enjoy my boys. Aly is gone next year to college...Zayn is only home for 5 more years.<br />- Keep creating and growing "Anita Ladhani Designs"<br />- Sleep more regularly<br />- Meditate<br />- Start and work on creating a book for Aly for when he leaves for college.<br /><br /><br />I'll post pics of the finished project when I get it done...hopefully before the new year.<br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita<br /><br /></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-8344743785104140192014-11-13T13:54:00.000-05:002014-11-13T13:54:10.177-05:00"Can I take a picture of you for my blog?"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">"Hi, my name is Anita and I am a writer and I'm working on a piece on beauty and women for my blog. I am taking pictures of beautiful women to post on my blog. Can I take a picture of you?" And with this little introduction, I approached about a dozen women of various ages (16 - 75 years) at Boca's famous Town Center Mall. I was there at the Apple store to drop off my son's laptop...water damage..or more like...lemonade damage. Poor kid was actually trying to complete his homework during lunch at my behooving when some kid pushed some other kid and somehow, someone's lemonade ended up all over my son's laptop. Needless to say, it shut down and &nbsp;has not turned on since. So I was at the Apple store to figure out our options. &nbsp;Turns out, it costs approximately $750 to repair water damage or one could just buy a new Mac starting at $1000. <br /><br />Well, I digress. So back to my little experiment. As I waited in the Apple store, I saw this beautiful woman walk by. She was beautiful, but not in the traditional sense of the word, but there was just something about her that was so exquisite that I couldn't help but ask her the question....And to be honest, up till the moment that the words came out of my mouth, I had no idea that I was going to be doing this. But once the sentence was out, it was like I had committed to it and had to see it through.<br /><br />Now let me assure you that I was intimidated to approach random women in Boca. For if you know Boca, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Rich, white folks, dressed to kill even when dressed casually, in the latest fashion, carrying the most expensive purses, with the designer shoes and sunglasses to complete the look. Well they're not all white but rich and uppity folks none the less. And I admit that this is my perception of Boca. I've always felt out of place there. Its as though they look down on people like me who not only are not rich but are as down to earth and non-caring of fashion trends as they come. None the less, I mustered up the courage and looked around me at all the many women in the different shapes, sizes, colors and ages. And I saw the most perfectly imperfect women everywhere! Every face I saw, radiated beauty. &nbsp;Just the realization that we are all one...we are all just spiritual beings having a human experience in this time and place together, filled my heart with joy and sadness. Sadness only because I could sense with many of the women that they had forgotten who they really were and were filled with doubt and shame. Its not something they said but its their energy that I was sensing. Call it my sixth sense to be able to pick up on people's inner demons.<br /><br />Sadly, I had more girls and women say no to having their pictures taken then I had women who said yes. But I gave out my business cards like candy to any of them who would actually accept it.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub2N_ASdg70/VGRUrshsl9I/AAAAAAAAEnM/ZRCHYXSlb0k/s1600/IMG_1867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub2N_ASdg70/VGRUrshsl9I/AAAAAAAAEnM/ZRCHYXSlb0k/s640/IMG_1867.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess how old she is?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DblGCy747g/VGRUrlGv7uI/AAAAAAAAEnI/HQaziuaid-A/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DblGCy747g/VGRUrlGv7uI/AAAAAAAAEnI/HQaziuaid-A/s640/IMG_1868.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she stunning...bandaid and all...and she is Rola, 28 years old with her MBA from FIU.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIba-38_KtA/VGRUrg2RshI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/oBclU3IpQ74/s1600/IMG_1869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EIba-38_KtA/VGRUrg2RshI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/oBclU3IpQ74/s400/IMG_1869.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just loved her energy!!! God Bless her!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I asked this beautiful white woman who was a bit on the skinny side and was at the Gymboree store with her mom. She just said, "No sorry!" and her eyes immediately looked down to the floor. &nbsp;I thanked her and handed her my card which she did accept, and let them be.<br /><br />I saw these two women walking toward me and I mustered up the courage and said, "Excuse me...my name is Anita......" &nbsp;One of them, who was actually dressed to kill, immediately tried to get away from me in case I were to snap a picture of her, with my simple little IPhone. She smiled awkwardly and said "No way!" but her friend, this brave, beautiful woman happily posed for me. Isn't she stunning? &nbsp;Can you see her beautiful spirit radiate in her eyes and her smile! And she is in her early 20's.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8gJ1-8vhE/VGRUssvuN5I/AAAAAAAAEng/cemwdCgelys/s1600/IMG_1872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8gJ1-8vhE/VGRUssvuN5I/AAAAAAAAEng/cemwdCgelys/s640/IMG_1872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nayHUxUWt0/VGRUtKGfBzI/AAAAAAAAEnk/QgCvHIzVu1c/s1600/IMG_1873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6nayHUxUWt0/VGRUtKGfBzI/AAAAAAAAEnk/QgCvHIzVu1c/s640/IMG_1873.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Next I walked by one of the kiosks and saw this gorgeous woman who asked me if I spoke Spanish, which I don't really...Well, I did study it for 3 years in high school but not enough to carry on a conversation. I can understand it if the person speaks very slowly. Anyways, she did understand why I was taking the picture and asked to see them when I took a few. But she didn't like them and decided to take her glasses off for the next one.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYRd9X5G01g/VGRUtVEeTQI/AAAAAAAAEno/_DpZrfi_4IU/s1600/IMG_1874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYRd9X5G01g/VGRUtVEeTQI/AAAAAAAAEno/_DpZrfi_4IU/s640/IMG_1874.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_r3v6GTSTj4/VGRUuSqaoUI/AAAAAAAAEoE/TMFL4oz9nJ8/s1600/IMG_1877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_r3v6GTSTj4/VGRUuSqaoUI/AAAAAAAAEoE/TMFL4oz9nJ8/s640/IMG_1877.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I walked in to the Limited and asked the salesperson behind the counter but she excused herself to go in the back and ask her supervisor and came back and explained that she couldn't while at work. I respected that.<br />As I was walking out I saw this gorgeous 30 some year old latin woman who again, was happy to have her picture taken.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kHqV1Wg9XoQ/VGRUvGF6NYI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/InRIvdSFKVY/s1600/IMG_1879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kHqV1Wg9XoQ/VGRUvGF6NYI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/InRIvdSFKVY/s640/IMG_1879.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I stopped at this other kiosk to buy some essential oils (lavender and patchouli) and asked the sales woman in the peach jacket and she said that I should take a picture of her co-worker (in yellow). So I did once she agreed and then I managed to convince the one in peach that she too was beautiful. She smiled embarrassingly and let me take a picture of her. She is in her early 40's.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oSIbojlB8/VGRUvjdNTqI/AAAAAAAAEoc/P8UIoGHVucQ/s1600/IMG_1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q-oSIbojlB8/VGRUvjdNTqI/AAAAAAAAEoc/P8UIoGHVucQ/s640/IMG_1880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-621anEAgcu8/VGRUv7lwE1I/AAAAAAAAEok/fpGbbIRcS84/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-621anEAgcu8/VGRUv7lwE1I/AAAAAAAAEok/fpGbbIRcS84/s640/IMG_1881.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />I asked a couple of women who looked like they were in their late 70's ...these perfectly done up older, white women and they literally just looked down their nose to me and shrugged me off as though I was some annoying fly. :) I thanked them and walked away with my card still in my hand since they refused to even accept my card.<br /><br />That was a bit discouraging and I hesitated to ask others although that only lasted a few minutes. And I was back to asking again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qo64pc4pujk/VGRUw6XwG2I/AAAAAAAAEow/gpyF6_1JPwA/s1600/IMG_1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qo64pc4pujk/VGRUw6XwG2I/AAAAAAAAEow/gpyF6_1JPwA/s640/IMG_1883.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The department stores with their counter after counter full of creams, perfumes and makeup.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I just didn't have the courage to ask these two as they walked by me.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oSg0IQuxGk/VGRUyxovlpI/AAAAAAAAEpg/XY8epbqF0JA/s1600/IMG_1890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5oSg0IQuxGk/VGRUyxovlpI/AAAAAAAAEpg/XY8epbqF0JA/s400/IMG_1890.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I just had to take a pic of this guy. He worked in the shoe dept and is in his early 20's. Wow!!! Now that takes courage! &nbsp;I walked by him when I entered the store and I heard this elderly woman go up to him and say, "You are absolutely beautiful!" To which I responded, "I second that." He had the most beautiful smile. &nbsp;So when I was walking out of the store, I saw that he was still in the same area, I asked him if I could take a picture of him and he shrugged and said, "Sure." &nbsp;He actually looks even better in person when he smiles!!!</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNf3C4br2zM/VGRUzNOoBKI/AAAAAAAAEpk/lkmXyXq7rIM/s1600/IMG_1891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNf3C4br2zM/VGRUzNOoBKI/AAAAAAAAEpk/lkmXyXq7rIM/s640/IMG_1891.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">selfie with shoe guy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwq6KNqIzvM/VGRUz8oBi-I/AAAAAAAAEp4/UpX1eg5Kxxc/s1600/IMG_1892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uwq6KNqIzvM/VGRUz8oBi-I/AAAAAAAAEp4/UpX1eg5Kxxc/s640/IMG_1892.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr></tbody></table>So this little experiment just confirmed what I'd suspected all along.<br /><br />More to come on the "You are Beautiful" project.<br /><br />Love, Light and Blessings,<br />Anita&nbsp;</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-67550384339699937582014-10-18T22:54:00.000-04:002014-10-18T22:54:29.606-04:00It is about to go down!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Hello fellow travelers on this journey of life!!! I haven't written in a while because I'm always censoring myself in my head and then end up not writing at all because the things I want to say, to share are personal, sometimes not so pleasant and sometimes plain out controversial... so I behave like the good girl that I'm expected to be and not write a damn word...oh and not curse at all too...but enough with that bs...i am done...u know at 41 years old...i don't need to be worrying about offending people...if they don't like what I write or do, then don't read it. Feel free to just ignore me and my work. I won't take it personally, I promise! :) &nbsp;but before going any further, I have to give credit where credit is due. I absolutely adore my fellow blogger, writer and dear friend, Gabe Berman. Now Gabe and I have never met in person, but communicated enough be in on the phone or via Facebook or text. Gabe is a kindred. He is also the author of 2 awesome books!!! (Live Like a Fruit Fly &amp; Where is God when your loved ones get sick? - both available on Amazon).<br />So as I read Gabe blog about his daily life in Long Island, I smile, my heart smiles because he is HONEST!!!! He writes as he thinks and feels and I respect that. I used to believe that one should not curse in their writings but I realize now that if that is how one communicates/ thinks...then that is what should be included....hell we all curse don't we...even the most holy of us occasionally slip up in our heads if not out loud. So as I read Gabe's most recent posts, I was inspired to just be honest...be vulnerable...be myself...perhaps others will recognize a bit of themselves in my experience of life....after all I can't be the only weirdo who thinks, acts and feels like I do.<br /><br />Alright so here goes...<br /><br />I am not known for being diplomatic...in fact...i lack it! and to be quite honest, I find it exhausting. So let me share a recent episode of yet another time, when I put my foot in my mouth and walked away immediately regretting it.<br />I recently attended a funeral of a dear aunt who lost her battle to cancer at the young age of 52. I adored her and respected her and still can't believe she is gone. In fact, I found myself talking to her just the other evening as I was sitting at my jewelry table working on a piece. And in my head, I could see her smile and respond. Now please be clear that I am not a psychic or a clarevoyant and most definitely am not a Ghost Whisperer. But this was a just me missing a loved one who left way too soon!<br /><br />Alright, back to being with family members before her funeral. Isn't it funny how we all come together for weddings and funerals and although funerals are by nature, supposed to be sad and they are sad but they are also a time of laughter and connection. We tend to come together as a family unit as we together mourn the loss of our loved ones. &nbsp;While we wait for the funeral or get together after the funeral, we break bread together and cousins hang out together and aunts usually are helping out in the kitchen while the uncles sit back and watch the scene unfold. So it was at one such dinner the night before the funeral that I walked in to the home and immediately was surrounded by family members whom I hadn't seen since my divorce 10 years ago...oh did I fail to mention this was my ex husband's aunt. :) Well she was and although I've always been invited at weddings and other occasions, I have never gone. But there was no way I was missing her funeral. I had been in regular touch with her over the years and had a lot of respect for the strong, educated woman that she was.<br /><br />So here I was standing with an uncle and aunt whom I had not seen in about 12 years. Now they have a son who is a senior in high school and is about to graduate. So naturally the conversation flowed towards his plans for college. They informed me almost proudly that they had decided that they didn't want him going away to an expensive university because he would get the same education attending a local community college for two years and then would look into transferring to a university to finish his Bachelors degree. They started to tell me how the son was going to basically follow in his father's footsteps and become a US customs inspector of some sort. They continued to explain how that would be wonderful for him and in 5 years, he had the potential of becoming a plant supervisor or something like that. Now I stood there just blown away. Why would you want your son to do what you do? Not that there is anything wrong with what he does but they live in America, the land of the free and opportunity. &nbsp;America, one of the few countries in the world where one can access the BEST education available. And yet their aspirations for him were to have the life and successes that the father had experienced. &nbsp;Not being college graduates themselves, the mother had been a stay at home mom for the most part and I respect that. No judgement there. In fact, I applaud and encourage all mothers who can make it work, to stay home and raise their kids for as long as they possibly can. And the father, I believe had completed enough college courses etc to be promoted to the supervisor position. At first the conversation was quite polite. But I think I lost in when the father said to me that in about 5 years, their son will make to a position of a supervisor and make about a $100,000 a year. HUH??? WHAT?!!! Are you kidding me? $100,000??? what is that...how much is that...what kind of lifestyle can one really afford with $100,000 a year. Now obviously I see the judgement exuding from my words because I know many families who make a lot less than that a year and are happy and healthy. But my immigrant roots scream in opposition as I remember the sacrifices our parents made when they came to America while in their 30'a to start over a new life for their kids. We were raised with the "You have to go to college. You have to get your Bachelors, You have to get a Masters! You have to make something of yourself. You have to preferably be in a career where you're working with your head and not with your hands." You see, our parents no matter what their education backgrounds from the mother lands of India and Pakistan, had to start from the bottom up with jobs such as working at What a Burger, the local dry cleaners, delivering pizza and even driving a cab in Chicago. They struggled and eventually were able to make a life for us. They worked two jobs, sacrificed the fancy lifestyle even when they could afford it to put us through college all in the hopes that we would have a better life than they ever could imagine for themselves. Because that alone would justify the sacrifices they made.<br />So back to the uncle and aunt, long story short, I basically said something similar to "Don't you want your son to have a better life than you?" and "Why aren't you encouraging him to aim higher". Of course I immediately bit my tongue and regretted those words ever leaving my lips...but it was done. I politely ended that conversation as I wished them the best and "I'm sure he will do great" etc etc etc bullshit.... and walked away from them, avoiding them for the rest of the weekend. I felt like an idiot and indeed I was a jerk for imposing my views, my expectations for my children on their family. But oh well...another lesson learned...keep your mouth shut Anita!!!<br />Later as the boys and I flew back home, I told them about this conversation and they just smiled and shrugged their head. "Mom!!! Only you!!!" they both said. Aly told me that he had a similar conversation about college with them and instead of blurting out like the idiot that I am, he was very mature and diplomatic and he bit his tongue and politely stood there saying nothing. He said, "Mom, I realized that that was their way of thinking and it was not my place to tell them any different." Damn!!!! Smart kid!!!! Now why didn't I think of that!! Oh well...yet another lesson learned....when in doubt keep my mouth shut. :)<br /><br />Over and out!<br />Sending you love, light and blessings.<br />Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-38642776848327076432014-08-19T18:48:00.002-04:002014-08-19T18:48:50.016-04:00A Few Things You Might Not Necessarily Know About Me.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I love mangoes, longons, lychees and custard apples.&nbsp;</div></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loMxBq0DHtQ/U_PPyLokrJI/AAAAAAAAEaw/-LYSpwWpAx4/s1600/mangoes.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-loMxBq0DHtQ/U_PPyLokrJI/AAAAAAAAEaw/-LYSpwWpAx4/s1600/mangoes.jpeg" height="127" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8seE351-QvE/U_PQ_d-pa3I/AAAAAAAAEb8/fJVB90lwheY/s1600/longons.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8seE351-QvE/U_PQ_d-pa3I/AAAAAAAAEb8/fJVB90lwheY/s1600/longons.jpeg" height="157" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_apPb0zXA4M/U_PQ_V4sQ_I/AAAAAAAAEb4/A54VTV8SdlA/s1600/lyc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_apPb0zXA4M/U_PQ_V4sQ_I/AAAAAAAAEb4/A54VTV8SdlA/s1600/lyc.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-iakB9hmdA/U_PRxBhy4uI/AAAAAAAAEcI/gPzVOTi8eHs/s1600/cust.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6-iakB9hmdA/U_PRxBhy4uI/AAAAAAAAEcI/gPzVOTi8eHs/s1600/cust.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I love writing which is equivalent to playing with play dough for me. I could take a piece of writing and go back and edit and re-edit it until I have written the whole thing over again.&nbsp;</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I adore vintage luggage and white-washed older furniture pieces with character. I also love lamps, bookshelves and wicker baskets!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XkQYrmVK0Wc/U_PPz46w8mI/AAAAAAAAEbI/YZqpSCQd-0E/s1600/th%2B(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XkQYrmVK0Wc/U_PPz46w8mI/AAAAAAAAEbI/YZqpSCQd-0E/s1600/th%2B(1).jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9lFy8f7scU/U_PQRwYH7tI/AAAAAAAAEbw/Wk02Ot37jdQ/s1600/fur.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e9lFy8f7scU/U_PQRwYH7tI/AAAAAAAAEbw/Wk02Ot37jdQ/s1600/fur.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I have always loved singing but unlike other girls from India who have melodious voices, I have always had a deep, manly voice. As a little girl, I use to sing into my hairbrush and practice my acceptance speech as I went up to receive my Grammy.&nbsp;Alas, I will not be winning any awards for singing. In fact, they might consider giving me an award for not singing. :)</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I love spending time near the ocean. The vastness of the ocean, the rhythm of the waves, the warmth of the sun on my bare skin, the smooth sand beneath my toes, laying down and staring up at the clear blue skies thru the luscious palm trees. It recharges me. I feel rejuvenated.&nbsp;</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I feel privileged to have worked with youth for over 10 years in various capacities. And have made an impact on their lives in some small way.</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5bhYzojM64/U_PSVcLl3iI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/PH_Q-gKiJT4/s1600/artful.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K5bhYzojM64/U_PSVcLl3iI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/PH_Q-gKiJT4/s1600/artful.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I love getting lost in a new book&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">which enriches my mind, fills my&nbsp;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">soul with hope and joy&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">and encourages me to dream.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">These days I find myself delving&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">into the various magazines published&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">by Sommerset which include:&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where Women Create,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Where Women Create Business,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Artful Blogging etc.&nbsp;</div></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">As an artist with a budding business&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">in its infancy stage, I find enormous&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">encouragement and ideas for where&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">I see my baby growing into.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFlosPbZRPc/U_PSVXfzR8I/AAAAAAAAEcU/vXy5kzDG-2I/s1600/where.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFlosPbZRPc/U_PSVXfzR8I/AAAAAAAAEcU/vXy5kzDG-2I/s1600/where.jpeg" /></a></div></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br />I invite and relish the challenge of creating a custom piece for a client. To be able to actualize their vision into reality is awesome! And it pushes me as an artist to try something new and different. These end up being some of my best sellers when I offer them in my shop.<br /><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">I love traveling to other countries and learning the local culture, discovering the little hole in the wall joints and discovering places off the beaten path.&nbsp;</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;">I have had the good fortune to travel to France, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, India, Nepal, St Thomas, Cayman Island, Greece.&nbsp;</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">My favorite places in the world these days are the west coast of USA with the beautiful Pacific Ocean and Santorini, Greece. I hope to spend a summer there renting a cottage over looking the cliff/water and writing one of my many best sellers.&nbsp;Ameen!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9hZ0_yClkQ/U_PPyAje5kI/AAAAAAAAEbk/BPZzeHdc1hk/s1600/pacific.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N9hZ0_yClkQ/U_PPyAje5kI/AAAAAAAAEbk/BPZzeHdc1hk/s1600/pacific.jpeg" height="325" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59yvMko6DKk/U_PPywUcq6I/AAAAAAAAEa4/WN8lkYaFwYs/s1600/san.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59yvMko6DKk/U_PPywUcq6I/AAAAAAAAEa4/WN8lkYaFwYs/s1600/san.jpeg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">That's all for now! Until next time. Please feel free to share something about yourself.</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Love, Light, and Blessings,</div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;">Anita</div><div class="p2" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="p1" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-88343402222303247662014-07-25T00:01:00.001-04:002014-07-25T00:38:36.878-04:00Home Studio Space Revamped!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As many of you know, I am very new to this artist thing...now mind you, I am not new to the artsy craftsy thing...i've been crafting ever since I can remember...whether I was painting dressers, tables and bookshelves bought from garage sales and then stamping them or sewing pillows and table cloths while I was pregnant with my first born Aly and was totally in the nesting mode. (moms will know exactly what I mean) ....but I never dared call myself an artist! Hello I'm Indian (born in India, not American Indian) until the age of 12 which is when my family decided to migrate to the USA. But at the age of 40, after attending Liz Lameroux's Be Present Retreat (http://www.bepresentretreats.com), I came back re-evaluating everything about my life...this retreat was a game changer for me....and I slowly but surely started to shed my years of identities taken on by life to uncovering my true self which was....(clearing my throat)...an artist!&nbsp;</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Even today after 9 months of launching my ETSY shop and selling a few of my art journals and plenty of my custom made jewelry pieces, I hesitate to call myself an artist. You see, in my head, an artist is someone who can draw, paint etc etc...and yes although I can art journal,...i can't really draw or paint like say a painting. .:)<div><br></div><div>None the less, I have taken over the front room of our home, which is designed to be the formal living room of the house as my studio space. &nbsp;It started about 2 years ago with just a large, oval, antique Ethan Allen off white dining table which I use as my desk and art table to then adding a long table by the window to work on my beads/ jewelry...but found that my Project Life / scrapbooking never got touched because I simply never had the table space for it...I'd have to clean up the paints or the sewing machine or whatever it was I was working on before I could work on something new....and it just wasn't happening.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>But then a few weeks ago, one of my neighbors put out their used office furniture out on the curb for bulk pick up. The furniture was used but in excellent condition. What caught my eye was the handsome cherry with black inset desk top!!! It was just sitting there. The kids and I pulled over our suv on our way home one night and got out of the car to examine it. I realized that although most of the pieces were good pieces, I only really would find use for the tabletop but having no certain plans or space for using the table top, I walked or rather drove away from it.</div><div><br></div><div>Well, my sons being my sons, decided to go carry it home the next day so that my youngest could use it to skate on. When I saw it sitting in the garage, I was a little confused as to why it was there. Zayn told me that it was not the right size or height to skate on and this is when I decided to go ahead and see if I could incorporate it into my work area. So I did! I moved around these cubes and drawers that I had bought a few years ago from Michael's to organize my craft supplies. These became the perfect base for the table. And I lined up the tables perpendicular to each other at the corners so that it created a nice U shaped work area. But then I wanted to tie the place together and decided to sew simple table skirts made of off white duct / canvas fabric (only $6 a yard).&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>So off to Joanne's fabrics I went but once there I found myself drawn to the beautiful Waverly patterned fabrics which I have always loved!!!! So I had an idea. I bought a yard each of 8 different patterns (stripes, florals etc). I also bought 9 yards of off white belt trim which I used to finish off the skirt. I cut up 1/2 yard of each of the patterns including the off white duck/canvas material and sewed it all together. I made sure to iron the fabrics before and after sewing them and used hot glue to put the belt trim at the bottom of the skirts. I made two separate skirts (one for each table) and also used plain canvas panels to cover the area underneath the jewelry table.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Here area &nbsp;few pics!!!</div><div>Before...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yEmdiVpJFnY/U9GzhFeWZVI/AAAAAAAAEQI/YTqwQKVxipg/s640/blogger-image-1501125765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-yEmdiVpJFnY/U9GzhFeWZVI/AAAAAAAAEQI/YTqwQKVxipg/s640/blogger-image-1501125765.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>After...</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VEdMGuVgRXY/U9HKU8OS5XI/AAAAAAAAETM/KGKVoYUQX1A/s640/blogger-image-277955990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VEdMGuVgRXY/U9HKU8OS5XI/AAAAAAAAETM/KGKVoYUQX1A/s640/blogger-image-277955990.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxEIectfrp4/U9HKEUAsKqI/AAAAAAAAESU/fe5buHZYaJI/s640/blogger-image--867670827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxEIectfrp4/U9HKEUAsKqI/AAAAAAAAESU/fe5buHZYaJI/s640/blogger-image--867670827.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_yE3vATHpFM/U9HKLtsJY2I/AAAAAAAAESs/K0zrYaj43kI/s640/blogger-image-343659133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_yE3vATHpFM/U9HKLtsJY2I/AAAAAAAAESs/K0zrYaj43kI/s640/blogger-image-343659133.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gf39K7XdqdU/U9HKS7z8g5I/AAAAAAAAETE/UW2ucTIZmOQ/s640/blogger-image-1532729960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gf39K7XdqdU/U9HKS7z8g5I/AAAAAAAAETE/UW2ucTIZmOQ/s640/blogger-image-1532729960.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3xk-7Aa2krQ/U9HKN0voyxI/AAAAAAAAES0/CsGzFXYJinQ/s640/blogger-image--1918989336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3xk-7Aa2krQ/U9HKN0voyxI/AAAAAAAAES0/CsGzFXYJinQ/s640/blogger-image--1918989336.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qasIuI98sj8/U9HKGyfhhFI/AAAAAAAAESc/AwdsIPYCMwE/s640/blogger-image--1595375815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qasIuI98sj8/U9HKGyfhhFI/AAAAAAAAESc/AwdsIPYCMwE/s640/blogger-image--1595375815.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--ONFoRu-Ns8/U9HKQThfSSI/AAAAAAAAES8/KaML9nFIehI/s640/blogger-image-1553067886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--ONFoRu-Ns8/U9HKQThfSSI/AAAAAAAAES8/KaML9nFIehI/s640/blogger-image-1553067886.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4YsErGr_WVU/U9HKCXGKFlI/AAAAAAAAESM/uLblad_GCZg/s640/blogger-image--707325301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4YsErGr_WVU/U9HKCXGKFlI/AAAAAAAAESM/uLblad_GCZg/s640/blogger-image--707325301.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ylMiRbi4ias/U9HKJMwDmmI/AAAAAAAAESk/_0wcwyKCtu0/s640/blogger-image--272519865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ylMiRbi4ias/U9HKJMwDmmI/AAAAAAAAESk/_0wcwyKCtu0/s640/blogger-image--272519865.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>In a perfect world, I would have another work surface/area for my painting and art journaling and another for my writing / blogging etc. but this will have to do for now!!!</div><div>And I love how it all came together. Now anyone who is fortunate to have any kinda space for their crafting will tell you that organizing it is a constant process of moving things around, assigning items you don't normally use to the garage and incorporating new baskets, boxes and cups etc to store things in an asthetically &nbsp;pleasing manner. After all, an artist i<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">room</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">s inspired and nurtured by their environment.&nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div><div>I am proud to say that I have started working on my Project Life albums but alas find myself being way too busy with creating prayer beads, Nade Ali prayer jewelry and other pieces to spend any real time on my album. I&nbsp;</div></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-69420624422102320482014-07-24T21:31:00.001-04:002014-12-21T00:47:54.343-05:002 days to explore San Francisco and Santa Cruz.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This past summer, Aly was to attend a three week camp at the University of Santa Cruz through the John Hopkins' Center for Talented Youth Summer program. So we decided to make it &nbsp;a quick family trip. We flew out of Miami, Florida and landed in San Francisco, California. After renting a car, we decided to wait to check into our hotel and instead made our way down to Fisherman's Wharf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hd05creQg4o/U9GzSteMrvI/AAAAAAAAEPo/-FMl4jarYcw/s640/blogger-image-1056086874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hd05creQg4o/U9GzSteMrvI/AAAAAAAAEPo/-FMl4jarYcw/s320/blogger-image-1056086874.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We did the typical tourist thing with all the other tourists there. We took selfies and ate yummy seafood at one of their many restaurants.</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S8k-zIFtivI/U9GzQNM4pEI/AAAAAAAAEPg/n2bkAbuI1Kc/s640/blogger-image--5474612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S8k-zIFtivI/U9GzQNM4pEI/AAAAAAAAEPg/n2bkAbuI1Kc/s400/blogger-image--5474612.jpg" width="300"></a></div><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>There are a line of restaurants and street side food eateries with such tempting seafood etc. Fried shrimp, curly fries, calamari <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XkrMWem9AFk/U9EEfFActlI/AAAAAAAAEOA/NUoQ45IHUa8/s640/blogger-image--1123395492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XkrMWem9AFk/U9EEfFActlI/AAAAAAAAEOA/NUoQ45IHUa8/s320/blogger-image--1123395492.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><br>I couldn't resist taking pictures of all the amazing food that I wished I could eat but my stomach and my wallet were not in agreement.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RKGq3tAgArQ/U9Gzc_fCnmI/AAAAAAAAEQA/e5dpbr_G5wg/s640/blogger-image-1530142155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RKGq3tAgArQ/U9Gzc_fCnmI/AAAAAAAAEQA/e5dpbr_G5wg/s320/blogger-image-1530142155.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tD2JlWo_V9g/U9EEiIPYJaI/AAAAAAAAEOI/NrsNxWQ_JcU/s640/blogger-image--976017333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tD2JlWo_V9g/U9EEiIPYJaI/AAAAAAAAEOI/NrsNxWQ_JcU/s320/blogger-image--976017333.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6MEoJXdB3UU/U9GzEshTlkI/AAAAAAAAEPA/caHquTiXw6A/s640/blogger-image-1893854870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6MEoJXdB3UU/U9GzEshTlkI/AAAAAAAAEPA/caHquTiXw6A/s320/blogger-image-1893854870.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJZWrUOgt0w/U9EEaitnbfI/AAAAAAAAEN4/NW_pDClrcgQ/s640/blogger-image-1434407278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VJZWrUOgt0w/U9EEaitnbfI/AAAAAAAAEN4/NW_pDClrcgQ/s320/blogger-image-1434407278.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>Lobsters, crabs, oysters, mussels, shrimp etc etc.....YUMMY!!!!!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xnIWWys_XuQ/U9Gy_vaGHkI/AAAAAAAAEOw/fBuWbnDo5FM/s640/blogger-image-584376505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xnIWWys_XuQ/U9Gy_vaGHkI/AAAAAAAAEOw/fBuWbnDo5FM/s320/blogger-image-584376505.jpg" width="240"></a></div><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYJfmAHmALY/U9EEUvqH-bI/AAAAAAAAENo/Fm5eEmvnHT4/s640/blogger-image-1046904840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xYJfmAHmALY/U9EEUvqH-bI/AAAAAAAAENo/Fm5eEmvnHT4/s320/blogger-image-1046904840.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We get to pick it and they steam it...unfortunately we were<br>told that they were not fresh so we didn't try it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gltqUsd2a3c/U9GzW9t0-mI/AAAAAAAAEPw/DbZMI4F7U9U/s640/blogger-image--847813878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gltqUsd2a3c/U9GzW9t0-mI/AAAAAAAAEPw/DbZMI4F7U9U/s320/blogger-image--847813878.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y12mpK4Rfrc/U9EEph-hK6I/AAAAAAAAEOY/J2Znu1-3M4E/s640/blogger-image--139221238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y12mpK4Rfrc/U9EEph-hK6I/AAAAAAAAEOY/J2Znu1-3M4E/s320/blogger-image--139221238.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>We ordered a sampler with fried shrimp, fish, calamari, scallops and fries. It was delicious!!!<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KW8XM4mql7A/U9EER_w17BI/AAAAAAAAENg/gZL91pJ340A/s640/blogger-image--1182900648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KW8XM4mql7A/U9EER_w17BI/AAAAAAAAENg/gZL91pJ340A/s200/blogger-image--1182900648.jpg" width="150"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ByNWK1rowVQ/U9EEkwTw0oI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/1cOOksrWiBE/s640/blogger-image--1601339066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ByNWK1rowVQ/U9EEkwTw0oI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/1cOOksrWiBE/s200/blogger-image--1601339066.jpg" width="200"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cN7p7mLLcBI/U9GzJsno1NI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/cuCeSHx2F4Q/s640/blogger-image-1835173991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cN7p7mLLcBI/U9GzJsno1NI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/cuCeSHx2F4Q/s320/blogger-image-1835173991.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l6LzizFrYoU/U9HAbv7ndzI/AAAAAAAAERU/pctqBsPZCCw/s640/blogger-image-391897091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l6LzizFrYoU/U9HAbv7ndzI/AAAAAAAAERU/pctqBsPZCCw/s400/blogger-image-391897091.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BQXzqFTq66w/U9HAi2tP7eI/AAAAAAAAERk/o_Swfri2po0/s640/blogger-image-1413889272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BQXzqFTq66w/U9HAi2tP7eI/AAAAAAAAERk/o_Swfri2po0/s320/blogger-image-1413889272.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>Then we started walking toward Ghiradelli Square. They have so many of these little street side shops with awesome jewelry!!! Now considering I make pieces very similar to these, I was super excited. What I wanted to do was to buy them all. But what I did instead was to buy a sweet pair of earrings and a matching bracelet and took a few pictures.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9eMWL_a3HM/U9HAVMON-9I/AAAAAAAAERE/X9q_f0WJ4no/s640/blogger-image-915779882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F9eMWL_a3HM/U9HAVMON-9I/AAAAAAAAERE/X9q_f0WJ4no/s400/blogger-image-915779882.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bk6dL2cmQPU/U9HAq-1E6hI/AAAAAAAAER8/8Mfdia7whKc/s640/blogger-image-470369459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-bk6dL2cmQPU/U9HAq-1E6hI/AAAAAAAAER8/8Mfdia7whKc/s320/blogger-image-470369459.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NeC-QSLmURY/U9HAljzmp0I/AAAAAAAAERs/XTGYBWZtozg/s640/blogger-image--281670724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NeC-QSLmURY/U9HAljzmp0I/AAAAAAAAERs/XTGYBWZtozg/s400/blogger-image--281670724.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mn6CYvRR2-o/U9HAN6G55nI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/3DnAtT_IC1U/s640/blogger-image-738960937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mn6CYvRR2-o/U9HAN6G55nI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/3DnAtT_IC1U/s400/blogger-image-738960937.jpg" width="400"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vqkQgRy384s/U9HAn8_vHZI/AAAAAAAAER0/W4NIXWu9UYI/s640/blogger-image-1643464592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vqkQgRy384s/U9HAn8_vHZI/AAAAAAAAER0/W4NIXWu9UYI/s400/blogger-image-1643464592.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br>I loved San Francisco and the cable carts but I hated, I mean absolutely was terrified of driving on the steep hill like streets of the city.<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I__83EzAgQA/U9HAXXtjMvI/AAAAAAAAERM/oYmT5sf-Rrc/s640/blogger-image--1873573452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I__83EzAgQA/U9HAXXtjMvI/AAAAAAAAERM/oYmT5sf-Rrc/s640/blogger-image--1873573452.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We started driving toward China Town. Zayn wanted to go skate at this famous skating place which in actually is this famous park for the local Chinese families.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So Zayn and Aly went to the park where Zayn skated while I went in and out of the many little shops in China Town. We ate at this little Chinese restaurants with probably the worst Chinese food&nbsp;I've ever eaten.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a1eFiTWkGOQ/U9HAepoaUAI/AAAAAAAAERc/nuR7CeOBJtg/s640/blogger-image-1441411111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a1eFiTWkGOQ/U9HAepoaUAI/AAAAAAAAERc/nuR7CeOBJtg/s400/blogger-image-1441411111.jpg" width="400"></a></div><br>After walking around in China Town and buying&nbsp;souvenirs and being veryyyy tired, we made it to our hotel and had a good night sleep. We woke up the next morning and started driving to the University of Santa Cruz. We stopped at one of the local beaches!!! I live in Florida but I LOVE the West Coast and the beaches surrounded by the hills. Its so cool to see the crabs and sand dollar remains scattered on the beach. Again, so different from our Florida beaches. We enjoy the Atlantic ocean in Florida but my heart remains with the gorgeous Pacific coast line.<br><br><br><br>I did take a few pictures of us at the beach but I didn't save them here. But I LOVE THE WEST COAST!!!!<br>Can't wait to go back there again. We dropped Aly off at USC and<br><br>Love, Light and Blessings,<br>Anita<br><br></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-4995862344136847522014-06-04T08:25:00.001-04:002014-06-04T08:25:25.597-04:00A Sufi's Journey...: The 7 - Day Unplugged Challenge!<a href="http://asufisjourney.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-more-we-have-less-we-have.html?m=1">A Sufi's Journey...: The 7 - Day Unplugged Challenge!</a>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-24072006814943215182014-04-11T08:51:00.001-04:002014-04-16T10:45:42.158-04:00Why buy handmade vs store bought?<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Since I started making and selling jewelry for the past six months or so I keep getting this question from a few of my family and&nbsp;friends who are new to the world of Etsy and handmade items. "Why should we buy handmade versus store-bought?" &nbsp;</span></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QI9UYV6cBUk/U06Xkj1KDAI/AAAAAAAAEL0/wwAGcgbeHHw/s640/blogger-image-2108778438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QI9UYV6cBUk/U06Xkj1KDAI/AAAAAAAAEL0/wwAGcgbeHHw/s640/blogger-image-2108778438.jpg"></a></div><br><div>The simple answer is that when an artist makes something or rather creates something with their hands, their energy is infused into their work. And when I wear that jewelry or scarf or whatever the piece is, its like I carry a piece of them with me. Therefore, if I like their vibe or what they stand for, I'll buy one of their pieces. Also, I value the role of art and creativity in our world and believe that our children have been shortchanged with the budget cuts in our school systems. Thus,<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">&nbsp;I believe in supporting and encouraging fellow artists who are brave enough to follow their souls. Some of my favorites are</span></div><div><br></div><div>http://www.lizlamoreux.etsy.com</div><div><br></div><div>Lisa Leonard Designs&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>and I love Jasmine Ismail's art. This girl is sooooo talented.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Link to my Etsy shop:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnitaLadhaniDesigns" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnitaLadhaniDesigns</a></div><div><br></div><div>Love, Light and blessings</div><div>Anita</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div><br></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-24749283249007640552014-04-10T19:35:00.001-04:002014-04-10T20:08:59.187-04:00Food, Family, Neighbors & Love!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8JIYbcZ3Iis/U0cqs6KaatI/AAAAAAAAELc/rojJoOU1KdM/s640/blogger-image--297794748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8JIYbcZ3Iis/U0cqs6KaatI/AAAAAAAAELc/rojJoOU1KdM/s640/blogger-image--297794748.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div>My mom is an incredible cook. Her bbq is &nbsp;the best. She loves cooking outdoors. So dad bought her this professional grade outdoor gas stove. The boys have been making fresh burgers.&nbsp;<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9F_s30XcTBc/U0cqi6NrP7I/AAAAAAAAEK8/_8mviZKJDeg/s640/blogger-image-1832855621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9F_s30XcTBc/U0cqi6NrP7I/AAAAAAAAEK8/_8mviZKJDeg/s640/blogger-image-1832855621.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div><div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--kI711ZeHPI/U0cqVqV4ruI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LrEnOtjN3EE/s640/blogger-image--845127664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--kI711ZeHPI/U0cqVqV4ruI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/LrEnOtjN3EE/s640/blogger-image--845127664.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--V8wDTv5cvU/U0cqq0m_7aI/AAAAAAAAELU/DTVs0-1C4nk/s640/blogger-image-1203221972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--V8wDTv5cvU/U0cqq0m_7aI/AAAAAAAAELU/DTVs0-1C4nk/s640/blogger-image-1203221972.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>These kababs taste sooooooo good and smell amazing! It reminds me of being in Mumbai's bori molla.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2vPsVIXw1Q0/U0cqkVkWIcI/AAAAAAAAELE/WGtQLwCZb7Q/s640/blogger-image--274395514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2vPsVIXw1Q0/U0cqkVkWIcI/AAAAAAAAELE/WGtQLwCZb7Q/s640/blogger-image--274395514.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I ate them with garlic nan and imli chutney.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3biGR9-jew0/U0cqcwzJ1HI/AAAAAAAAEKc/thnO4_e2nzU/s640/blogger-image-935880208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3biGR9-jew0/U0cqcwzJ1HI/AAAAAAAAEKc/thnO4_e2nzU/s640/blogger-image-935880208.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>This recipee is originally my dear friend Amina Dhanji's. Mom just omitted the green chillies. Recipee is further down.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Zayn's cheeseburger with spinach, organic ketchup and mayo.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MJgLQ3wURzo/U0cqaLW41OI/AAAAAAAAEKM/lo94R-FfAV0/s640/blogger-image-2029229430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MJgLQ3wURzo/U0cqaLW41OI/AAAAAAAAEKM/lo94R-FfAV0/s640/blogger-image-2029229430.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Zayn skating in the backyard.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xs0ol1I8fsM/U0cqbhJB5wI/AAAAAAAAEKU/OW1dGKHgcZs/s640/blogger-image-212334084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xs0ol1I8fsM/U0cqbhJB5wI/AAAAAAAAEKU/OW1dGKHgcZs/s640/blogger-image-212334084.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Mom and dad sit down to enjoy a few kababs as Annie sits around hoping for scraps. But alas she doesn't get any.&nbsp;</div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2NYRQNnaWhI/U0cqW4gtVRI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/N837DJu4KUA/s640/blogger-image--658398579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2NYRQNnaWhI/U0cqW4gtVRI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/N837DJu4KUA/s640/blogger-image--658398579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Recipee</div><div>3 lbs of ground beef</div><div>2 tsp full of Shan's seekh kabab masala</div><div>2 tsp full of Shan's bihari kanab masala</div><div>1 tbsp homemade adrak lasan paste (garlic and ginger)</div><div>&nbsp; 1/2 bunch cilantro chopped&nbsp;</div><div>Mix everything together</div><div>Soak 2 slices of bread, squeeze the water out and mix in to the beef.&nbsp;</div><div>Shape the meat into desired shapes and either bake in oven or outdoor grill.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fRKMtugUr_o/U0cqgLS6MnI/AAAAAAAAEKs/xGocpl0Nbpo/s640/blogger-image-1478607909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fRKMtugUr_o/U0cqgLS6MnI/AAAAAAAAEKs/xGocpl0Nbpo/s640/blogger-image-1478607909.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>One of our neighbors stops by to get a plant clipping and drop off home made pickle he made from this fruit tree called june plum. Its a Jamaican fruit that grows in our backyard. &nbsp;We don't eat them but our Jamaican neighbors really enjoy them.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ig4JdFlBrHA/U0cqhl03tbI/AAAAAAAAEK0/EkZ6Qu08L4A/s640/blogger-image--1536372583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ig4JdFlBrHA/U0cqhl03tbI/AAAAAAAAEK0/EkZ6Qu08L4A/s640/blogger-image--1536372583.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Mom and dad taste the pickle and give it two thumbs up.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o1KvKdBS1wI/U0cqeld-OmI/AAAAAAAAEKk/6i4mUo7-yqw/s640/blogger-image--287640327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o1KvKdBS1wI/U0cqeld-OmI/AAAAAAAAEKk/6i4mUo7-yqw/s640/blogger-image--287640327.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Another neighbor stops by to say hello.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7i-QtZhin7s/U0cqYlc6hkI/AAAAAAAAEKE/n2iRwdH0eN4/s640/blogger-image--370904939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7i-QtZhin7s/U0cqYlc6hkI/AAAAAAAAEKE/n2iRwdH0eN4/s640/blogger-image--370904939.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We are sooooo blessed! Living in South Florida we are blessed to enjoy beautiful weather year round. Its a bit chilly this evening which means its about 70 degrees. 😊 I know! I know! Its all relative. I need a light sweater in this weather. 😜</div><div><br></div><div>Aly comes home from school. Its around 7:30 pm which is normal for Aly considering he stays after for weightlifting practice after school and takes the late bus home.&nbsp;</div><div>Annie rushes to greet him by licking his face.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TwYBEni7aus/U0cqT8DNPII/AAAAAAAAEJs/w883iBYQp_c/s640/blogger-image-989141320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-TwYBEni7aus/U0cqT8DNPII/AAAAAAAAEJs/w883iBYQp_c/s640/blogger-image-989141320.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>But first, lemme take a selfie ;)</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4l_lD7PBei8/U0cqubuBZDI/AAAAAAAAELk/fx8bPJ3ufkM/s640/blogger-image--115379840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4l_lD7PBei8/U0cqubuBZDI/AAAAAAAAELk/fx8bPJ3ufkM/s640/blogger-image--115379840.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>And another with Annie</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6S3loiZ0Aks/U0cqoku5tdI/AAAAAAAAELM/yfZATuI5Rjc/s640/blogger-image-141444279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6S3loiZ0Aks/U0cqoku5tdI/AAAAAAAAELM/yfZATuI5Rjc/s640/blogger-image-141444279.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Sending you all love, light and blessings.&nbsp;</div><div>Anita</div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8843171737199180503.post-7832164054607044132014-03-27T03:42:00.001-04:002014-03-27T03:42:37.189-04:00Love this!Nana puts his elbow on Aly's shoulder as he talks to him. Aly is making an omelette with spinach and cheese. What a beautiful moment!<div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YqZzmx8UAIc/UzPWaFwBFhI/AAAAAAAAEIE/S5_54D5AJmU/s640/blogger-image-1944487051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YqZzmx8UAIc/UzPWaFwBFhI/AAAAAAAAEIE/S5_54D5AJmU/s640/blogger-image-1944487051.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Shukranlillah! Wal hamdullilah!</div><div><br></div><div>Love and Light!</div><div>Anita</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Anitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09981773590327617113noreply@blogger.com0